Southern railway to add more summer specials

Chennai:

After notifying 152 special trains during the summer, Southern Railway on Friday said that it will run more special trains.

Addressing the 58^th Railway Week function, Southern Railway general manager Rakesh Misra said that the railways has found that it will be possible to have additional summer specials in Chennai-Jodhpur-Bikaner-Jodhpur-Chennai stretch, Chennai-Tirunelveli-Chennai route besides Nagacoil-Bangalore (via Madurai) and Chennai-Palani stretch.

He also said that the number of tatkal reservations in all specials will be increased so as to help last minute passengers get reservations. “The exact quantum of increase is being discussed with railway board and it will be announced shortly,” he said.

He also warned the commuters not to spit or litter in railway premises. “We will not hesitate to impose heavy fines on the offenders,” he said.

Misra also said that Southern Railway has earned Rs 6,036 crore this financial year, an overall growth of 7.7 per cent over the actuals of the preceding year. “On the expenditure front, we had to accommodate an additional Rs 180 crore due to increment in arrears, diesel price hike and electricity board tariff revision which were entirely post budgetary developments,” he added.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Principal Adviser E Sreedharan stressed on the need for southern railway to follow safety, punctuality and cleanliness of stations and trains. He said it is not the people but the officials who have to keep the station clean. “once it is kept clean, then people will be forced to think twice before littering or spitting on the station,” he added.