Wednesday’s incident on the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS), in which an engine and a coach of a running train caught fire near the Perungudi station, brings into sharp focus the safety concerns of commuters who travel between Chennai Beach and Velachery regularly.
The growing concern is partly fuelled by the fact that this is the third mishap on this line in the last eight months. The earlier two accidents involved derailment – at Park Town station on February 18 and near the Light House station on October 6.
Together, the three accidents, though minor, seem to have dented the image of the MRTS as a safe public transport facility.
R. Elangovan, working president, Dakshin Railway Employees Union (DREU), said the suburban train network as a whole was plagued by manpower shortage and unavailability of spare parts, particularly electrical equipment. In the case of MRTS, there was an additional problem – lack of proper access, which can prove costly during times of major accidents, he added.
A fire and rescue services official of the Velachery Fire Station, which was involved in the fire-fighting operations at Perungudi, complained about the delay in informing the fire department and the time wasted in negotiating bad roads on the way to the section of the MRTS where the accident took place.
The official pointed out that instead of contacting the fire department, the railway staff tried to bring the fire under control and, only when they realised they were unequal to the task, did they call the fire control room. Due to overgrown bushes and poor road conditions, the fire engines found it difficult to access the elevated portion where the accident took place.
A loco driver of the Southern Railway said that MRTS track was mostly elevated, it is important that the concrete pathway, which could be used by commuters to reach the nearest station in case of any accidents, should be in a good condition. At present, the concrete pathway was in a bad condition with several concrete slabs missing.
The General Manager of Southern Railway said an enquiry committee was investigating the fire accident and would look into whether any poor material had been used or if an electrical short circuit had caused the accident.
He denied there was any manpower shortage in the maintenance department.
The accidents seem to have dented the image of the MRTS as a safe public transport facility
