C Shivakumar By

CHENNAI: If you stay more than 20 minutes at the platform of metro stations without boarding a train, you are liable to be penalised.

Chennai Metro Rail officials said the smart card won’t work when trying to enter into the station and the ticket checking official could easily find out that you have overstayed. And this could result in the commuter having to pay the penalty even if he hasn’t used the service.

However, Chennai Metro has not yet notified this and an official promised that announcements would be put out in the stations to make commuters aware of the consequences of either loitering or waiting too long on the platform.

Meanwhile, Chennai Metro Rail officials are planning to set up kiosks at the station entrance, providing food, sweets, bakery items and confectioneries, stationary gifts, mobiles and accessories and bookstores. A Metro official said tenders have been floated in this regard.

“We will also be setting up ATMs,” said the official. Currently, some of the stations have two ATMs and this could function with the availability of network.

It is learnt that Koyambedu, Alandhur, Arumbakkam and Vadapalani stations would have food court and beverage kiosks. A total of 99 square metres have been marked in these four stations for this purpose, sources said.

Similarly, sweets, bakery items and confectioneries, stationary gifts, mobiles and accessories and bookstores kiosks would be set up in all the seven stations.

For the public, the biggest hurdle is lack of multi-modal integration. The proposed mini-buses are nowhere to be seen. And people from far-off places like chinmaya Nagar, Valsaravakkam, Anna Nagar or residential areas in Vadapalani find it difficult to access Chennai Metro.

CPM, VCK demand reduction in fare

Chennai: Joining the Metro Rail rid, CPM and VCK reiterated the demand for slashing the ticket prices, while Tamil Maanila Congress leader GK Vasan sought integration of the project with MRTS. Accompanied by party functionaries, VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan started his journey from Alandur. Waiting in the queue, he himself bought the tickets and sat with other passengers during the travel. He told reporters that people felt that that the `40 fare fixed for Alandur to Koyambedu was very high.