RailEnquiry

Welcoming passengers in a traditional manner, the loudspeakers installed at the Egmore Railway Station play Mangala Isai during the morning hours. The initiative, experimented at Egmore on the lines of Tiruchirapalli Junction Railway Station in Central Tamil Nadu, has been well received by the commuters, claim authorities.“Taking a cue from Tiruchirapalli Junction, we play Mangala Isai audio from 4.30 am everyday, as trains from Southern districts begin arriving at Egmore,” a senior Railway official said.“The classical instrumental music is played till 10 am, in between train arrival announcements, in an effort create a pleasant ambience for the visitors alighting at Egmore,” the official added.Around 24,000 passengers commuting by 16 express trains from South Tamil Nadu arrive at the Egmore Railway Station between 4.30 am and 10.00 am, regularly.“The initiative commenced mid-December last year (2011). People arrive in different moods at the railway station and we believe that welcoming them with classical music would refresh their mind,” an official observed.The classical music in Nadaswaram and Thavil, is played everyday. Desikan, a commuter felt this was better than playing film music. “It is really pleasant to hear Mangala Isai at the railway station in the morning,” he added. On the other hand, authorities at the Egmore Railway Station have introduced a new system at the enquiry counter, wherein the response from the official manning the counter would be audible for more people.

According to sources, the system of enquiry has been modified in such a way that the reply by the person from counter would reach multiple persons, who may be waiting in the queue with  the same queries.