Chennai: Travel on the Beach-TamÂbaram EMUs should be less cumbersome in a few months, if the Southern RaÂÂilway (SR) really makes good on its promise. SR has assured commuters that it will augment the caÂpacity of all EMUs that run on the route to 12-car capacity.
Divisional railway manager P.K. Mishra was leaÂrnt to have given this assurance during the 141st Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee (DRÂUCC) meet held here on Friday.
The capacity addition would begin as soon as the extension of a few station platforms to 12-car capacity between Beach and TaÂmbaram got over, DRUCC member S. Mohanram, who took part in the meeting, told Deccan Chronicle.
However, the DRM was left red-faced when asked aboÂut similar capacity adÂdiÂtion on the MMC-GumÂmidipoondi route in which nine-car EMUs were operated owing to short platforms. The DRM also prÂomised to complete the fifth and sixth lines at BaÂsin Bridge within a year. The two additional lines would help avoid the regular retention of long-distance express trains and EMUs at Basin Bridge.
Sometimes, long distance trains are made to wait at Basin Bridge for over 30 minutes owing to the traffic between it and Chennai Central. The doubling was cleared in this year’s railway budget.
The authorities have also given assurances of fitting a GPS system which would facilitate the announcement of the destination and arrival station as in other EMUs in the city. Currently, only 21 trains have the GPS facility.
Several participating DRÂUCC members drew the authorities’ attention to the lack of adequate securÂity and amenities, like driÂnking water, toilets and ramps for the disabled in the suburban train statiÂoÂns, particularly on the MMC-Gummidipoondi and MMC-Tiruallur route.
The two-day protest of the differently abled people did not go unnoticed as the divisional railway mÂanager said that he would ensure that the dedicated parking space and seats aboard trains were available for the differently abled without them being occupied by others, including RPF personnel.
