Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has shot off a letter to Ernakulam Range Inspector General P. Vijayan complaining of ticketless travel in metro trains by personnel of the State Industrial Security Force (SISF) who guard metro stations.
The brief letter said the personnel must purchase tickets for travelling in the metro, also mentioning that it was the norm in all other metro rail systems in India.
KMRL officials said they were referring to acquaintances of SISF personnel who were travelling ticketless in trains. “We do not mind personnel travelling sans tickets if it is for a job-related task.”
Commenting on the issue, Mr. Vijayan said he was taken by surprise as the KMRL letter specifically mentioned ticketless travel by uniformed personnel. “The metro agency has not issued them passes. Neither have they made alternative arrangements for them to travel between metro stations. They are now making a hue and cry even when checking inspectors travel between metro stations to supervise security arrangements,” he said.
Pointing out that the SISF was a force formed along the lines of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) for guarding industrial establishments, the IG held that the maintenance of such personnel was the responsibility of those who hire their services. “Unfortunately, the KMRL has not even extended them a facility for changing clothes,” he added.
The KMRL had earlier demanded that the State government bear the salary and other expenses of the personnel, citing that it was the norm in other metros. The government has not taken a decision on this.
Record revenue
The eight trains that operated on Sunday in the metro corridor earned a record revenue of ₹30.91 lakh from 85,474 commuters. Six trains that operated on June 19, the day the metro began commercial operation, had raked in ₹28.11 lakh as revenue from 85,671 commuters. On Monday, the trains ferried 77,554 commuters till 7 p.m., bringing in ₹26.73 lakh as revenue.
Accommodation
The KMRL has set July 5 as deadline for seven members of the transgender community to join duty at stations. “We will opt to recruit other trangenders if they do not join duty. We have decided to deploy two others (kept away earlier citing inadequate qualification) from the community for housekeeping duty,” said officials.
