Southern Railway timetables in short supply!!!

Southern Railway released the new timetable for EMU and express trains on July 1, but the revised copy is not available at ticket counters at Chennai Central and other suburban stations across the city. In absence of sales at the railway counters, touts are reported to be selling the timetables to passengers at an increased price.
    

SR time table valid from July 2013-2014

   While a copy of the time table can be purchased at 15 at a regular counter at a station, the price in black goes up to 50. Many passengers complain that they are forced to wait for long hours and that some of them even miss the train in the absence of the timetable listing the new timings.
    
   S. Velmuthu, a senior citizen said, “I couldn’t find a single copy of the timetable at the stations. As I don’t have access to the internet, I am forced to call the railway enquiry numbers every time to confirm the train timings,” he said.

   Mohan Ram, a member of the divisional rail user’s consultative committee, said that some of the railway staff were purchasing bundles of new timetables and distributing them to their friends and relatives. This has resulted in a shortage of time tables, he said. “However, we have requested the Divisional Railway Manager to print additional copies and we hope that it will be available by the end of August.” He also said that though there was no rule prohibiting bulk purchase, the committee had asked the authorities to prevent the railway employees from purchasing several copies for personal use.
    
   A Southern Railway official said that a fresh stock of timetables had recently been dispatched for sales at counters. “The stock keeps coming in when there is a shortage,” he added.