Date:09/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/09/stories/2009010957430200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

New facility revs up

Staff Reporter

It will be of immense help to persons with disability

— PHOTO: K.V.Srinivasan

Utility: Minister of State for Railways R.Velu inaugurates the free battery operated car service for persons with disability at Chennai Central Railway Station on Thursday.

CHENNAI: Minister of State for Railways R.Velu inaugurated a new battery-operated car for persons with disability at the Central Railway Station here on Thursday. The Minister said this was a New Year gift for persons with disability.

The four-seater car is pollution-free and has sufficient luggage space, making it convenient to move about inside the station, he said. The car is provided by Srishti Communications. The Southern Railway would generate revenue through advertisements for maintaining the car.

Addressing presspersons after the launch, the Minister said Indian Railways was mulling over restricting internet ticket bookings to 50 per cent so that those going to the counters were not at a loss. He said that the night service of Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) would be extended, and a train service is likely to be introduced after 10 p.m.

As of now, the timing of the last train leaving Beach station for Velachery is 9.40 p.m. South Railway general manager Rakesh Chopra said that the night service train would be introduced on an experimental basis to test the patronage level.

In view of the Pongal rush for train bookings, Mr.Velu said many express trains had been introduced to meet the increased demand. Since express trains such as Nellai-Kanyakumari currently had only 18 to 21 coaches, whereas its capacity could be increased up to 24 coaches, he said he would consider increasing the carrying capacity of express trains to cater to increased demand. He said some platforms were not long enough to station 23 coach trains and they were currently being extended.

With regards to the bridge work on the Villupuram-Mayiladuthurai railway line, they were progressing rapidly, he said.

By April the Egmore-Tiruchendur main line will be ready for use, he said.