Tamil Nadu: Four ways to improve suburban train travel

CHENNAI: As commuters begin to crowd the 600 suburban train services which resumed after lockdown restrictions were relaxed, crowd control has become a Herculean task, apart from train delays, slow and inefficient ticket issuing and inadequate amenities on the three suburban routes. While travelling is relatively trouble-free on Beach-Tambaram route, commuters face inconvenience on a daily basis on the Central/BeachTiruvallur and Central/Beach-Gummidipoondi routes.
TOI looks at four solutions that are crucial to make travel smoother in the city’s most popular mass transit system.
Exclusive team to manage suburban services
A few years ago, a bureaucrat incharge of Chennai metro rail was spotted alone at one of the stations. He had reached by a train, walked quietly past the staff, checked the platforms, ticket turnstiles, escalators and other facilities. Those who recognised him, stood up while others just went about their work. He took a few photos and quietly walked out of the station to his car.