Title - Trains bulge at seams ahead of Pongal

CHENNAI: Private bus operators tripled their fares ahead of Pongal, leading to an unprecedented rush in unreserved coaches of trains heading to the southern districts in the last two days.Those who did not make their plans in advance found it hard to get home for Pongal. As railways did not introduce special trains this year, many passengers who reached the station with waitlisted tickets had to travel by unreserved compartments. Trains to Madurai, Tuticorin and Nagercoil were unusually crowded. Road transport authorities cancelled 28 permits and levied fines of 27 lakh in the last two days in a crackdown on private bus operators who exploited passengers desperate to travel home for the harvest festival."Many people come to the station in the hope of travelling in reserved compartments with unreserved tickets but we do not allow that. There has been an increase in the sales of unreserved tickets," said a senior railway official. "Many are using the general compartment because travelling is the priority not comfort," he said.Trains are the preferred mode of transport as most people cannot afford to spend 800 to 1,500 for a ticket on a private bus. "I cannot plan my travel in advance because I cannot be sure of getting leave. I was lucky to get time off this year. I prefer trains because they are cheaper," said Ravi Kumar, who works in a restaurant.The hike in government bus fares has also added to the rush. There is an increased demand for passenger trains even though their frequency lower than buses. "I cannot afford to travel by bus though there are many buses from Tambaram to Tindivanam. Trains are cheaper, so I do not mind waiting at the station," said Velayuthan.However, railways is unable to introduce special trains because of the shortage of coaches and infrastructure. Recently, Southern Railway operated special trains with general compartments to West Bengal on a trial bases after ticket sales showed that a large number of migrant labourers were travelling on that route.