Defacement of public transport facilities, including pasting posters and scribbling on trains and buses, has been a rampant problem in the city.
Residents accustomed to taking public transport encounter it on MTC buses, and suburban and MRTS trains.
So, soon after the Chennai Metro Rail was launched a few months ago, people raved about it.
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There were some who said that there would be continuing patronage only if the trains and the stations were maintained well.
Five months after the launch, the trains still look quite sleek and clean. Officials of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) however point out they too face the problem of some commuters defacing trains.
According to them, every day, after the services are complete, maintenance work begins at night.
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“We have been using different solutions to erase messages written on train walls. This cleaning happens for all trains after they return from service. The idea is to ensure the trains are kept neat and clean every day for commuters,” an official says.
Commuters say they are indeed happy with the way the trains have been maintained.
Narayan Iyer, a frequent Metro Rail commuter, says, “It is certainly quite expensive to travel by it every day; but I continue to do so because it is the fastest way to reach my workplace and the maintenance also has been exceptional. MTC should learn lessons from Chennai Metro Rail.”
Chennai Metro Rail, built at a cost of Rs. 14,600 crore, had its first service running from Koyambedu to Alandur. So far, about 10 trains have been put to use for this 10-km stretch.
The ordinary class fares of Chennai Metro Rail range from Rs. 10 to Rs. 40 and the special class fares are twice that.