Wow, wonderful: From senior citizens to kids, all thrilled by first metro ride
30 Jun 2015 11:56 AM IST
DC takes a ride in metro rail and gauges public response
Crowds throng in large numbers to experience ‘history' as the Chennai metro rail was launched for public use. (Photo: N. Sampath & E.K. Sanjay)
Chennai: In 2007, when the Cabinet approved the Chennai metro rail project, far more important things were capturing the public mind.
The Indian Cricket team had one of its worst drubbings in World Cup history. Back in Tamil Nadu, Rajnikanth’s movie, Sivaji was released after a two-year gap. In the movie, a professionally successful Rajni returning from the United States would marvel at the development the city had gone through looking at the glass facades that replaced concrete in most buildings.
Much had changed since then, Indian cricket team completed a full circle with going on to win the World Cup in the next edition and failing to defend it in the next and losing to an under ranked Bangladesh Team recently. Rajini went on to act in three more movies and has already signed up for his next.
Considering Monday’s launch of Chennai metro rail and the crowds that thronged to visit the latest addition to the city’s transport systems, one must say that the particular scene in 'Sivaji’ was perfectly farsighted. Enthusiasm and curiosity defied age as tiny tots in their school uniforms to elderly couples made it a point to be part of history on Monday.
The buzz was visible from the early hours of the morning as people started flocking to the Alandur station. “I wanted to buy the first ticket of the Metro, hence I landed up at 11 so that I get it and also do not miss out on the excitement”, said Paul, a student. Passengers were even handed sweet packets as a token of gesture by the metro officials after the first few rides.
The station was bustling with activity by evening. Sixty-two-year-old R. Ganesh, a retired engineer, did not want to miss out the occasion. The Alandur resident, along with his wife Usha (57) took the metro rail from Alandur to Koyambedu around 5 pm. “The view from the platform is nice. In fact, I can see my house right there,” the sexagenarian said. Terming the metro rail an engineering marvel, he said it was too early to compare and comment about CMRL functioning.
Professionals like Mala Manu (28) who works at a private firm in Ekkatuthangal took the train to Koyambedu and back with a colleague and her husband, Manu Siddharthan to just’ check it out’. Apart from the selfie-obsessed public, few were contemplating the merits and demerits of the rail, the fare which attracted a mixed response.
“If Rs 40 is charged for this distance, then imagine the fares when the next phases start functioning. Will I be charged Rs 100 for a trip to Central?” asked R. Mani (34), a systems engineer, working at Ashok Nagar. The fares might seem to be on the higher side. But, it’s better compared to the other modes of transport. Especially, the time saved is a great factor,” countered R.Karthik who works at TESCO, Bengaluru.
The train was fast, the views from inside exhilarating and the experience satisfactory. However, the best visitors the metro rail probably hosted on its first day were tiny tots who made sure that their parents took them on the train after their school hours.
Bus commuter finds metro ride comfortable:
The office of Deccan Chronicle, and that’s where I work, is located at Guindy Industrial Estate. To be precise, it is just behind Olympia IT Park, which is a stone’s throwaway from the Ekkatuthangal metro station. Having my residence at Anna Nagar, I had two public transport options to my office. The MTC bus service (more of which later) or the shared cab service, which has greatly evolved to be now counted as a public transit system.
Alternatively, I could have, anytime, flagged down an auto and arrived in style. But not before haggling with the auto driver over the fare. And oh, after all that negotiating, the drivers flag down the meter just for record sake. I primarily use the MTC bus service, of which there are multiple routes plying on Jawaharlal Nehru Road. That was due to convenience rather than preference. Though Chennai has a well-connected bus network, one among the best in the country, a common grouse of passengers was that the journey is not comfortable, due to worsening traffic, especially during peak hours. Ironically, several busy arterial roads in the city have lost out too much space to metro rail.
That was until Monday. With the commissioning of the much-awaited metro rail, I have one more public transit option and at first glance one that is very much welcoming. Boarding the train at CMBT station (the connection to Anna Nagar is yet to be completed) at 6.10 pm, I barely finished my conversation about the new addition to the city with a fellow traveler, when the train pulled into the Ekkaduthangal station.
The journey was complete in less than 15 minutes and more significantly in absolute comfort. If I had taken the bus around at the same time, I would have probably reached only by 6.40 pm. However there is a grouse over the fare fixed.
A conversation between a child and his father summed it up. Towards the end of the journey, I overheard the kid asking, “Father, what happens if I lose the small token (ticket)?” to which the dad replied, “I think we have to pay a fine.” “But, we already are paying such a high amount anyway,” the child retorted.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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