CM J. Jayalalithaa flags off city’s rapid transit system from Secretariat
Happy commuters on board a metro train after Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa flagged off the Chennai Metro Rail Limited's passenger services between Alandur and Koyambedu through video conference, in the city on Monday. (Photo: DC)
Chennai: History was made in the city on Monday as Chennai’s first metro train started its maiden journey from Alandur station at 12.14 pm amid rapturous applause and the melodious sound of nathaswaram echoing on the upper deck platform of the station.
Train operator A. Preethi pushed the lever to set the wheels of the rolling stock moving just as Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa waved a green flag at the Secretariat, marking the official launch of the commercial run on the 10.1km Koyambedu-Alandur elevated corridor, part of the 45-km network being constructed at a cost of Rs 14,600 crore.
Decked up in flowers and bouquets inside and outside, a packed train (No: 115) carrying mostly metro rail staff and AIADMK workers rolled out of the station and gradually picked up pace on the track running above the Kathipara flyover, seeming as if the train was disappearing into the clear blue sky, tempting several visitors on the platform to pull out their mobile and capture an image of a fast ‘fading’ metro train.
The train reached Koyambedu at 12.34pm, completing its maiden journey in 20 minutes. As thrilled visitors on the platform took selfies with another decorated four-car metro train in the background, elated CMRL (Chennai metro rail limited) employees made good use of a few minutes available till the arrival of the next train for a photo op with their visibly jubilant managing director Pankaj Kumar Bansal, who is already being described by his subordinates as Chennai's home grown 'Metro' man.
The excitement refused to die down and the buzz on the platform was felt again when the second train arrived on the platform, (No: 105), which started from Alandur at 12.44 pm and did even better covering the 10 kms in 19 minutes. Every time the train inched close to a station, a small bulb flickered on the electronic route map fixed above the doors aboard the train, indicating the approaching station. The automated public announcement system on board helped passengers not to miss their alighting stations.
Many of the several hundred passengers who disembarked at Koyambedu station with a smile had another surprise waiting when a display board on the other platform blinked "Next train to Alandur in seven minutes".
Ticket machines face teething problem:
As Chennaiites flocked to metro rail to catch the first ride on Monday, glitches started cropping up around 1.30 p.m. As crowds continued to swell, the automatic ticket vending machines (ATVMs) situated near entrance ‘C’ at Alandur stopped issuing tokens, leaving the passengers fuming and irritated.
Trouble began when one passenger, Mohan, who wanted to go to Ekkatuthangal could not get four tickets for which he paid Rs 40. “I put in four Rs 10 coins for the tokens to buy tickets for myself and my family. However, no ticket was issued, after which it started showing ‘Out of Service’. When I complained to officials, they asked us to wait. Later, they said there are no coins and they are not responsible. I am now left with only Rs 20. How do four of us go now? This is highly irresponsible. If this is the situation on the first day what will happen later?” he complained.
As the queue continued to get longer, passengers were seen losing their temper. Benu, a student, said, “On the first day itself it is showing ‘out of service’. It has been half-an-hour since I am waiting for a ticket. I thought this service will be faster, now it is taking longer than the road transport system.”
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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