For those hoping for divine intervention when they visit Mylapore from different parts of the city, the long awaited mass rapid transit system (MRTS)stop near the Mundakakanni Amman Koil stop on the Chennai Beach-Velachery section finally became active on Wednesday.
Built at a cost of `20 crore, Mundakakanni Amman Koil station had its first train service, from Velachery to Chennai Beach, stopping at the station at 6.05 am. The station is situated between the lighthouse and Mylapore MRTS station within a walkable distance from Mundakakanni Amman Temple and Luz region.
The station was built following the request of people from Royapettah and Mylapore locality, according to a Railways spokesman.
The initiative came in the wake of the Madras High Court pointing out that the MRTS stations from Chintadripet to Velachery were constructed at enormous cost in huge spaces meant for commercial purposes but had not been put to such use.
The High Court observed that the MRTS stations and Southern Railways were not maintained properly and passed an order that steps should be taken to make the MRTS user friendly.
While the station is an extra stop for some, for those visiting the Mundakakanni Amman temple, especially students and IT professionals, the station is a boon. Venugopal, a CA student residing in Triplicane who has his taxation classes at a centre in Luz, says that this station saves him 10 minutes and the trouble of having to alight at Mylapore and walk back in the sweltering heat .
The first 12 trains in the morning got a good reception from people at the station, especially during the morning peak hours with crowds dwindling to a meagre four people around 12 noon, said one of the Railways staff at the Mundakakanni Amman Koil ticket counter.
Regular Services
The first EMU train which leaves Chennai Beach at 4.10 am will arrive at Mundakakanni Amman Koil station at 4.28 am on week days. On weekends (Sundays) the first EMU train which leaves Chennai Beach at 6 am will arrive at Mundakakanni Amman Koil station at 6.18 am.
The first EMU train to leave Velachery at 5 am will arrive at Mundakakanni Amman Koil station at 5.20 am on weekdays. On Sundays the first EMU train to leave Velachery at 6.50 am will arrive at Mundakakanni Amman Koil station at 7.10 am.
The last EMU train, leaving Velachery at 11 pm, will arrive at Mundakakanni Amman Koil station at 10.20 pm on weekdays and on Sundays the last EMU train, which leaves Velachery at 11 pm, will arrive at Mundakakanni Amman Koil station at 11.20 pm.
