Platform ticket rate up 5 times in select stations

The temporary price hike ordered by Chennai division, which notices “gathering of a major section of people at Central, Egmore and Tambaram stations”, would be in place till March 31.

“This will curb the spread of the disease to some extent,” the order (copy of which is available with DT Next) issued by Divisional Commercial Manager, Chennai Railway Division, R Harikrishnan said, referring to the measures taken by the Union government to restrict unnecessary gathering of people to avoid the spreading of COVID-19.

B Guganesan, the chief public relations officer of Southern Railway confirmed the ticket price hike and said the order issued on Tuesday was limited to the three stations, which witnessed maximum footfall.

Asked about suburban stations like Mambalam and Guindy, which record high footfall, he said, “In suburban stations, it is mostly passengers. But, in Chennai Central, Egmore and Tambaram, platform ticket sales indicate that non-travellers gather in large numbers. Hence, the hike in the ticket price. We hope that it would minimise the visit of non-travellers to the stations.”

The zone is also understood to have advised divisional bosses to make similar decisions on their own to restrict the movement of people.

A few days ago, the department had stopped the supply of woollen blankets and removed curtains from AC coaches to prevent the spread of deadly coronavirus.