Title - Commuters wait in vain as staff skip work for TU meet

Suburban train travellers had a harrowing time before ticket booking counters on Monday, after several commercial staff responsible for issuing of tickets failed to turn up for work. The absentees were allegedly participating in a meeting organised under the aegis of a trade union in the city.Serpentine queues were formed in several railway stations bringing Moore Market Complex (MMC) to a standstill during the morning hours. “I have been waiting for several hours to buy a ticket, missing many trains in the meantime,” a passenger, who was spotted at MMC claimed. Apparently, the long queue for availing unreserved mail and express trains also escalated.According to sources, two counters at MMC did not function even as the authorities made temporary arrangements by allowing a facilitator for Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVM) to offer tickets. A senior official at the booking office, who was supposed to oversee the operations, occupied the seat of commercial clerks to issue tickets following shortage of employees, sources added.With Monday being the first day of the week, office-goers were in a tough spot. “There was unusual crowd at the booking counter in Urappakkam railway station. Watching the unprecedented queue, frequent travellers said that they had never witnessed such a heavy crowd in recent memory,” a commuter claimed.When contacted, a senior railway official clarified that the booking counters were functioning with adequate staff. “Generally, heavy rush is reported during Mondays. Necessary railway employees were available at the booking counter, to serve the passengers” the official stressed.