S Nagarajan, Retd.
from Central Service
'Jyothis' Chandra Nagar Palakkad; May 14, 06
email: sn(at)calicutnet.com, (at) = @The statement by Chairman of
Malabar train Action committee regarding the deferment of Chennai Mail to
Super fast Train till completion of track doubling is highly condemnable.
Because it is a crystal clear fact that once the track doubling is completed
there will be drastic reduction in journey time of all trains as the trains
will not be held up for crossings at smaller stations.
But the Railway department is cashing in on this change by including the
6601/6602 Chennai Mail in Super fast category; as this train has the highest
No:of passengers on the Mangalore - Palghat sector. The result is that all
passengers will have to pay Rs.15 as super fast surcharge in addition
irrespective of distance. Those who travel in higher classes and long
distance will not bother about this reformation as only a small percentage
will be expended. But this will drain out the pockets of short distance
unreserved passengers including Season Ticket holders.
As the Train have more passengers in unreserved category, the additional
income generated will be unthinkable and this is the target of the railways.
But train action committee represented by the people from chamber of
commerce and likewise want to preserve their interests only; but pretend to
be the protectors of all category of passengers. Hence the media should
interfere lest the train passengers of Malabar will be duped. It may be
remembered that a united protest earlier from the people of Ernakulam area
had refrained the railways from converting Alleppey Chennai Express into SF
category.
