Non-issuance of tickets to women sparks tension at railway stations

The Southern Railway had announced that women can travel on the local trains from Monday. The Railways had also announced that to control the crowd, tickets will not be issued to women between 7 to 10 in the morning and 4.30 to 7.30 in the evening, which are peak hours.

However, many women passengers who came to the Tambaram railway station around 8 am, went to the counters to buy the tickets and when the staff asked them to wait till 10 am, began to argue with them. They claimed that most of them need to report to work before 10 am and cannot wait till that. The RPF personnel on duty consoled the passengers and they dispersed.

Similar situation was also reported from Chengalpattu, Maraimalai Nagar, Pallavaram, Perungalathur and St Thomas Mount stations. After 10 am, the passenger count was less and only very few passengers travelled during that time. The passengers claimed that the Railways should issue tickets during peak hours also and should allow men when they are travelling as a family.