As machines idle, suburban railway passengers suffer

As machines idle, suburban railway passengers suffer

Meera Nair TNN

Chennai:27.11.2021

Most of the automated passenger amenities like ticket vending machines, water dispensers and digital information screens are idling at city’s suburban railway stations despite high footfalls in these stations.

At West Mambalam station, all the three automatic ticket vending machines are not in working condition. While one is supposed to have been ‘fully automated’ machine, two others are to be manually operated. “They are not in working condition for a very long time,” said a lady clerk, adding, “I don’t’ know how long will they remain so.”

At Tambaram, of the four ticketing machines, two are out of order for the past many months, and a railway employee at the station said the issue had been communicated to commercial department and action awaited. Even the ATMs are in short-supply. Of the three ATMs at the main entrance, two are out of order, resulting in endless queue in front of the lone working ATM.

At West Mambalam, the rusted drinking water pipes, dirty floor and stench all around would put off even the thirstiest commuter. A woman commuter close-by advises those who care not to use water from the tap. “Buy from the RO units on platforms,” she says.

The UTS mobile ticket App of the railways too has not endeared itself to users, including youngsters, much. “App-based bookings are used by less than 20% of regular passengers,” said the clerk, adding that elders and less educated are not able to use them.

Pooja, a college student, said she had not even tried any app-based ticket booking or attempted the ticket vending machines as well. Lakshmi, a private company employee, said she was not even aware of the UTS mobile ticketing system operated by the railways.

Both at Tambaram and West Mambalam stations, the giant digital information board were not working, forcing commuters to wait in front of alreadycrowded counters for inquiry regarding train timings.

Senior citizens, handicapped and pregnant women find it hard to first inquire about timings at the counter, and then rush to catch the train. A railway employee the complaint has been forwarded to higher officials but it hasn’t received any positive yet.

The upgraded Tambaram station is a multi-modal hub handling much more number of trains than it used to be a mere suburban outpost. The station’s upgradation has not bought along more amenities on platforms.