App-based cab service for two more railway stations soon

‘The idea is to provide better service to rail travellers at reasonable rate’

he Southern Railway administration has identified a private agency for operating the App-based cab services.

The Southern Railway has planned to introduce App-based cab services at two more railways stations falling under the Tiruchi Railway Division limits soon. The facility was introduced at the Tiruchi Junction over a month ago.

The new facility would be put in place at Srirangam station and Thanjavur railway junction soon.

Dedicated area within the station premises has been earmarked for the chosen cab operator to park a fleet of vehicles to pick up passengers alighting at the stations.

The process for the proposed introduction of the new facility is already on with the Southern Railway administration having identified the private agency for operating the App-based cab services.

Thanjavur Junction is a major station in Tiruchi Railway Division limits falling under the ‘A’ category, while Srirangam where many important express trains halt falls under the ‘D’ category.

Railway officials told

The Hindu that a separate area measuring 180 square metres would be earmarked at Srirangam station for parking of a fleet of cabs which could be booked by passengers using their smart phone.

At Thanjavur Junction, an area of 120 square metres has been set apart for parking of cabs. The facility at both stations is expected to start soon. Both stations could accommodate nearly 15 cabs each at a time, said the officials. The idea was to provide better service to rail travellers at reasonable rate and prevent over-charging, said the officials. The passengers could book in advance and facility could be availed round-the-clock.

Falling in the Villupuram – Tiruchi chord line section, Srirangam station near Tiruchi is witness to heavy movement of passengers travelling by Pallavan, Rockfort, Mangalore and Guruvayur expresses.

The movement is more during important occasion such as Vaikunta Ekadasi when devotees in large numbers come from various destinations to offer prayers at the Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple.

The service by Ola was launched at Tiruchi Junction in mid-August.

There has been a good response from passengers for this facility, said a senior official. On an average, over 50 for cars and more than 40 for autorickshaws are booked every day at Tiruchi junction under the service, said the officials.