Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai   

Trains, buses bursting at the seams

By S. Vydhianathan

CHENNAI May 8. Despite the introduction of many specials by the Southern Railway and operation of additional services by road transport corporations and omnibus operators, the summer rush from Chennai to various destinations, especially the south, is heavy.

Everyday, thousands are thronging railway stations and the mofussil bus stand at Koyambedu, seeking accommodation. While some manage to find comfortable accommodation, the others undergo an ordeal as they look to touts, who exploit them.

All 708 specials, being operated by the Southern Railway, to 20 destinations are packed. These apart, it runs a train whenever the number of waitlisted passengers in any particular corridor crosses the 500-mark. In the Chennai Egmore-Nagercoil sector, additional trains are operated during weekends, apart from the specials. All these services are completely booked on the date of announcement itself.

Phenomenal increase

Railway sources told The Hindu that there was a phenomenal increase in traffic in the Chennai Egmore-Nagercoil sector, especially after the bus fare increase and shifting of the mofussil bus stand to Koyambedu.

As omnibuses are prohibited from entering the city, passengers prefer trains to going all the way to Koyambedu.

At present, a majority of main line services are running with 20-24 coaches, the maximum possible in a train. Still many waitlisted passengers could not be accommodated. Though the administration wants to operate more specials, line capacity comes in the way. At present both the Chennai - Nagercoil and Chennai - Jolarpet sections are saturated. It is difficult to run additional services, as doing so will affect track maintenance. Moreover, running more specials will hit freight traffic, which is also a major revenue earner for the zone.

Road transport inadequate

As for road transport, the additional services run by the State-owned transport corporations are not able to meet the demand fully. A last-minute traveller complains that he has to grease the palms of porters or others to get a seat.

Also, the travel is not comfortable as many of the buses are aged, with damaged cushion seats, and the schedule is irregular. But the lower middle class prefers corporation services to omnibuses because of the lower fare.

Transport department officials admit that there is no fixed time schedule for special buses and they are being operated depending on the rush. Referring to the condition of the buses, they said it was much better than last year as the corporations had replaced many aged vehicles.

Passenger patronage was good, despite the shifting of the bus stand, the officials claimed.

Omnibus operations

Meanwhile, omnibuses have become part of the State's transport network. On an average about 500 buses are being operated to various destinations in the south, catering for last-minute passengers.

The operators charge at least 50 per cent more than train or bus fare. For example, the fares are Rs. 220 and 275 to Tiruchi and Madurai, compared to Rs. 165 and 195 by train.

The charges fluctuate depending on the rush. The omnibus operators, however, justify the higher fare. Every year, the Government is hiking the tax, forcing them to pass on the burden to passengers, explains an operator. As the competition is stiff, the operators will have to provide more comforts to passengers, besides maintaining punctuality.

Denying that they are fleecing the passengers, they say regular operators do not indulge in `unhealthy' practices.

A few might try to exploit passengers during the rush period. That established companies have a regular clientele is proof of their popularity, say the operators.

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