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Chennai Suburban Rail : Paranur Station next to Mahindra World City where ITPL failed
Written By Sanjeev - 24 September, 2013
Bangalore CRS Commuter rail Commuter rail Suburban Rail
Recently I was at Mahindra World City which is 50 Kms from Chennai. As usual got interested in the Connectivity from this place to Heart of Chennai.
When checked, came to know this Paranur station. Infact most of the big companies located at this place run shuttel services every 15 / 30 min to this Paranur station for their employees.
Here some of the news article on this Paranur station :
As the Paranur station abuts Mahindra Wrold City which 60 Kms from Chenna.
So exactly why is it worth writing about? Because it has managed to do stuff that’s completely alien to train travel in our country. It’s clean (yes, the toilets too), it’s colourful, landscaped and well maintained.
The magic is the result of an impressive public-private partnership, reportedly the first of its kind in the country. Mahindra World City Developers (MWCD) joined hands with Indian Railways to give the dreary station a makeover, after Mahindra World City, an integrated business zone, came up here.
Money well spent
MWCD has spent Rs. 1.5 crore on the project and also meets the recurring expenditure of maintaining and protecting the facility. Considering that the station is the gateway to Mahindra World City and used by 40 per cent of its workforce, it is obviously money well spent for the company. And a windfall for the neighbourhood.
As the suburban train slides into the station, the scene shifts from dreariness to vibrant colour. A shock of well-tended greenery lines the main structure that contains the ticket counter, the waiting room and toilets. Fountains add drama to the view. Stretches of land near the tracks are landscaped, and the platform and foot over-bridge look slick, with their overlay of tiles. The surprise continues all the way to the toilets, immaculately kept and with a special facility for the differently-abled. Spittoons and high-velocity lighting complete the satisfying picture of modernity and sophistication.
“As the station abuts our city, we wanted to give it an ambience and amenities that will benefit the employees of MWC and others,” says Sangeetha Prasad, CEO, MWCD. Five years on, the station is set to become a beacon for similar partnerships elsewhere.
“A delegation from the Ministry of Commerce visited the station to see how the model works,” says Prasad.
Paranur is a trendsetter in how private companies can be roped into public infrastructure projects. May their tribe increase!
Some highlights
*Round-the-clock security
*Well-tended garden with fountains and flower beds
*High-velocity lighting
*Spacious ticket counter
*Waiting room with toilets, including one for the differently-abled
*Steel benches and spittoons
http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/on-the-right-track/article3639754.ece
Shilpa Architects who designed this tiny station :
http://shilpaarchitects.com/portfolio.php?id=58
Chennai Suburban Rail where Paranur Station exist : Beach - Tambaram - Chengalpattu
http://www.urbanrail.net/as/chen/chennai_subur07c.pdf
This Paranur Railway station currently operates over 64 local services between Chengelpat and Chennai Beach and has 20,000 people using this service.
COMMENTS
Surge in patronage for Metro, MRTS
Sanjeev - 18 November, 2015 - 06:37
These train services were popular as they were not considerably hit by last week's rain
Number of commuters using these train services doubled in the last three days
While flooding of arterial roads led to difficulties in operating buses and exorbitant charges by private transport operators, many commuters turned to the Metro and Mass Rapid Transit Sysyem.
During the past three days, when rain submerged roads, patronage of the Metro and MRTS went up.
A senior official of the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) said the commuter population had doubled in all the six stations from Koyambedu to Alandur. Similarly, the operation of train services on the MRTS route, even during days of heavy rain, was a surge in the number of passengers.
A senior official of Southern Railway said this was one route where train services were not affected by flooding of tracks.
Official sources reveal that the revenue generated by CMRL services significantly increased over the last three days. It was between Rs. 8 lakh and Rs. 10 lakh, considerably higher than the usual collection, which is between Rs. 3 lakh to Rs. 4 lakh lakh.
The passengers commuting by the Metro had also increased to around 20,000 on weekdays against the usual 5,000, the sources said.
V. Lakshmi, working at an IT firm in Guindy, said travelling by the Metro was comfortable during a rainy season as they did not have to navigate water-clogged roads choked with traffic. Moreover, when compared to fares charged by autorickshaws and taxis, the Metro ticket was cheap, she added.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/surge-in-patronage-for-metro-mrts/article7889878.ece?ref=tpnews
Thanks to AUthorities in Chennai / TN for doing better planning in providng urban mass tranport. Chennai citizens did not suffer for want of Public Transport during last one week due rains.
Bangalore citizens suffered most / worst even though rains were not that intense like Chennai. Thanks to the Govt of Karnataka for doing meetings, Reports and giving statements only.
kbsyed61 - 24 September, 2013 - 18:00
Naveen,
I don't know why we had to slug it out here on Metro Vs Suburban. Like suburban, Metro also is not the only solution for Bangalore's needs. Even if one takes its 100% carrying capacity, i.e. 1 Million commuters per day, it is only 15-20% of the Bangalore's PT ridership. We need additional capacities to fulfill the remaining 6-7 million PT ridership.
You will agree with me that neither Metro nor Suburban (if at all it happens) will go to everybody's door steps. Unless the last mile connectivity is taken care, be it Metro or Suburban rail, they will remain inefficient PT systems. In that context, I don;t know why coaxing the govt authorities to pay attention to last mile connectivity, which I understood to be the theme of this post should get bashed up.
It is a fact that Metro costs more and for that huge cost it does delivers a decent transit system. You and me can argue for umpteen times should we invest in such projects or not? In 2013 for Namma Metro, that arguments will be purely academic and am sure nobody will win that argument.
Suburban rail, whether we believe it or not, if implemented properly, can alleviate some of the Bangalore's transit problems if not all.
Instead of fighting here on Praja, let's fight the state government, MLAs, MPs who is sitting pretty and not doing enough to expedite the process. If nothing else lets call CS, CM, MPs and MLAs or at least drop them an email. File some RTIs. Pester them till they wake up. If you can arrange personal meets, please do so. We are running short on time.
In comparison, look at the efforts from Kerala politicians.
Source - NDTV
IT Cities Suburban Rail onnectivity Mumbai. Hyderaba, Chennai
Sanjeev - 24 September, 2013 - 05:45
Was woundering till now we did't notice on how Paranur station made difference for travell to Mahindra World City in Chennai which 50 Kms from the city. Only looking at how MRTS initially failed till now???
Same way with MMTS to HiTech City in Hyderabad. Similarly at SEEPZ Mumbai which close to Andheri has bus shuttel services from Andheri Station to SEEPZ
Can any one update on how Salt Lake city in Calcutta is having Urban Transort Connectivity ???
Same case with HiTech City in Hyderabad.
Sanjeev - 24 September, 2013 - 05:36
MMTS Hyderabad is meeting demands of IT people travell needs with HiTech City station.
Looking at how ITPL at Whitefield strugeling for the commuting needs and still hoping some miracle will happen outside its premises.
Simple thing in case of ITPL could have been & now also its possible :
1. Develop halt station behind Prestige Shantiniketan apartment and provide good foot paths to ITPL. This may not cost more then 5 Crore and another 2 Crore for FOB. So in oer all 10 Crore is sufficent.
2. As most of the shuttel sevices between Bangalore City - Bangarpet / Marikuppam gives unscheduled / unoffical stops, make them offical stop at the above place.
3. Extend the Bangarpet - Bangalore City Trains to Bidadi
4. Add another just FOUR more services 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening. This will give 8 / 10 services between Whitefiled - Bangalore city which will inturn brings down pressure on the road.
Sathya can u share your recent experience of Paranur station
Sanjeev - 4 November, 2015 - 12:36
Many IT people use Paranur station who work in Mahindra World city but none of them talk about its good thing.
@Sathya can u share ur experience
Some of the Bangalore big gaint companies need to learn on this how to contribute to urban trnasport development by funding but not blaming the Govt.
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