Chennai:
Chennai women can now travel without any hassles in metro rail as two thirds of one of the driving car is reserved for ladies.
Deputy general manager of Chennai Metro Rail (Rolling stock) Rajendran told reporters while taking them on a test ride in the stretch between CMBT to Ashok Nagar on Saturday that there will be a partition specially reserved for women.
“It will have 26 seats besides space for 250 women passengers (both sitting and standing) during the peak hours of the train,” Rajendran said.
The coach will also have special signage for women and entry of male passengers would be restricted. Interestingly, only Delhi metro has this feature and we will also be adapting it, he said. Even the handgrips in the ladies section is designed considering the ergonomics of women passengers. This will reduce posture induced stresses and ensures comfort for commuters.
Similarly, lower hand grabs are provided on both end of each car which will enable ladies a safer area in standard class cars.
Interestingly, Chennai metro rail will also be having a special or premium class and the ladies partition would be next to it.
Interestingly, no other metro has such facility except Dubai Metro. Rajendran said that the special class would be partitioned and would have a seating capacity of 14 and a total space for 76 passengers (both sitting and standing).
Seats in the area are designed to be more comfortable and more attractive by utilising a fabric material and seat cushions. “We thought of having the special class after seeing the popularity of First Class in suburban rail. Interestingly, metro rail says that they are experimenting this feature in metro rail. “If it is successful, we will increase it and if no response we will scrap it,” he said.
On the cost of this luxury travel, Rajendran said the financial details are yet to be decided. The train will also have four seats in every standard class car reserved for people with special needs including women in family way. A total of five per cent of seats is reserved for disabled persons. It also has wheel chair egress request signal to alert operator to stop the car for a prolonged times besides two wheel chair parking area is available in each driving motor car of four car rake.
Interestingly, metro rail will now be plying on the elevated stretch for the next four to six months before being certified by the statutory authorities.
Salient features:
Each train will have four rakes. Two driving motor cars and two trailer cars.
Car structure is made of stainless steel and is designed for more than 30 years of life.
The maximum operating speed is 80kmph with design speed of 90kmph. The train is operated with headway of 3 minutes to satisfy peak ridership.
Maximum capacity is 1276 with 176 seating capacity and 1100 standee.
Modern technique of regenerative braking is used to increase the energy efficiency as well as to reduce wear on friction brake system. 30 to 35 pc of energy is recovered.
A two way emergency intercom is provided to enable passengers to initiate hands free communications with operator in emergency
In case of emergency a helpline number 18604251515 is displayed in the train. A separate call center would be operational to receive issues.
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