Many office goers and students suffer now travelling in the suburban trains in Chennai!!
Posted on: 23/Jan/2023 10:01:33 AM
There has been some delay in the upgradation of rakes from 9car to 12 car and due to this thousands of students as well as office goers have been facing issues now. They are forced to travel now on footboards while travelling in the suburban trains in Chennai.
It was brought out by some official estimations that around 112 additional suburban coaches would be needed to run 12 car services in the Chennai-Arakkonam and Chennai-Gummidipoondi sections. On these routes, the passengers carrying capacity of the suburban trains would be enhanced by 55000 and 20000 respectively the upgradation of rakes from 9car to 12 car.
It must be taken into account that the Avadi EMU depot now maintains 42 rakes out of which 6 are 12car rakes, 32 are nine car rakes and 4 are 9car MEMUs.
As per a senior divisional electrical engineer, rolli9ng stock, Avadi section, Chennai division, a total of 36 motor coaches and 76 trailer coaches would be needed to upgrade 32 rakes of EMU trains into 12 car trains. In a day, 2.5lakhs of passengers travel in the Chennai-Arakkonam-Tiruttani sections in about 256 services. Truth is that 63services are 12 car trains and remaining are 9 car trains.
Heavy crowds are witnessed during the morning peak hours in the Chennai bound trains from Tiruttani and Arakkonam etc.It is worthy to note here that in February month in 2018 railways completed platform extension works to accommodate 12 car rakes at all the suburban trains except the MRTS. Four years have gone since the platform works have finished and this was according to Mr. Abdul Hameed, member of DRUCC, Chennai Division.
It was revealed by another member of DRUCC Mr. Naina Maslilamani that in the early morning hours passengers run on the platforms to catch the trains. He added that railways must take the responsibility to ensure that the infrastructure enhancement at more than 25 stations must benefit the passengers. He wanted the 9 car rakes to be converted into 12 car rakes as soon as possible.
Newly manufactured local trains are 12 car rakes and this was pointed out by a railway officer from Chennai Division. To allocate more EMUs to the Chennai Division, proposals have been sent to the railway board also. He concluded that the upgradation of rakes would be done in a phased manner.
