The Chennai Railway Clearing and Forwarding Agents' Association (CRCFAA), along with its allied associations, has stressed the need for better facilities to discharge their day-to-day cargoes. | |
| The association's demands include better linking roads, lighting, drainage, regular maintenance and step-up of vigilance at all exit points. |
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| Speaking to reporters in Chennai on Friday, Chandru, secretary, CRCFAA, said that better infrastructure would help in implementing the round-the-clock working norm introduced recently by the Railways. |
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| He added that two major cargo sheds in Chennai "� Korukkupet and Saltcoters "� need immediate attention. |
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| "We have been talking and writing to all officials concerned in the Southern Railway and the Railway Board in Delhi to clear the bottlenecks, but there has been no proper response from the authorities." |
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| Chandru said that while costs had gone up, the poor infrastructure at the sheds only added to the miserable conditions of the agencies. |
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| "Big potholes on the roads inside the goods sheds have caused tyres to burst, and these are expensive to replace. The roads need to be concretised or tar-topped. This will ensure that trucks which carry 50 tonnes of loads and trailers carrying 100 tonnes do not have frequent breakdowns." |
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| Another factor that was highlighted was that the lighting on the roads is inadequate for 24-hour working. Besides, the drainage system is badly maintained and choked with garbage. The goods sheds are submerged in water during the rainy season because of the choked drains. |
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| The association members also pointed out that they were given only nine hours to clear the consignments of 2,450 metric tonnes, while the Chennai Port allows 30 hours of clearing time to its workers. |
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