Sunday, Jul 07, 2002
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Tamil Nadu-Chennai
By Our Staff Reporter
Talking to mediapersons before inspecting the progress of MRTS works between Tirumayilai and Velachery, the Minister said ``we wanted to cater to the needs of every commuter and make the ticket reservation system as commuter-friendly as possible. Hence, the opening up of additional counters.'' The Minister who arrived at the Fort railway station around 10.20 a.m., travelled in the motorman coach of the MRTS train up to Tirumayilai. When the train halted at Chintadripet, on seeing the condition of the platform, Mr. Moorthy asked the authorities to keep the premises clean. Similarly at Tirumayilai station, he wanted the officials to remove the existing terrace, which radiated sunlight, and instead provide a shade for the commuters. All unauthorised billboards and hoardings in stations and on station premises would be removed immediately, the Minister said. He gave a 24-hour deadline to the officials to accomplish the task. Utilising the services of railway staff, stickers in compartments would also be removed. About 90 per cent of the work on the MRTS project between Tirumayilai and Velachery had been completed and it would be inaugurated in December, the Minister said. When scribes pointed out the slow progress of the work, Mr. Moorthy said he had already asked the Southern Railway General Manager, V. Anand, to convene a meeting with the contractors involved in the project as the total outlay of Rs. 869 crores for this phase had been released. Asked about the under utilisation of parking space by the MTC at the MRTS stations, Mr. Anand said the railway administration was discussing the issue with the MTC. ``Our aim is not to compete with the MTC, but we wish to work in cooperation with them.'' On the suggestion that if the MRTS fare was reduced by a rupee, more people could use the facility, the General Manager said ``as far as MRTS is concerned, season ticket holders are the main customers. Compared to bus fare, the season ticket rates are very low''. The decision on reducing the fare could be taken only by the Railway Ministry, Mr. Anand said. Work on converting metre gauge line into broad gauge between Beach and Egmore stations would begin in August and would be completed in two months time, he said. Packaged water/beverages without the Bureau of Indian Standards mark would not be sold in the pantry car. Similarly unauthorised persons would not be allowed to sell eatables in trains. To overcome this problem, the authorities issued identity cards to all vendors and those working in the pantry cars, Mr. Moorthy said.
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