When the virus-induced pandemic slowed down its operations, the Central Railway (CR) turned the disadvantage into an opportunity by revamping its announcement system
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When the virus-induced pandemic slowed down its operations, the Central Railway (CR) turned the disadvantage into an opportunity by revamping its announcement system. The CR replaced its outdated technology with an internet-based network with each user now getting an IP address in addition to boosting announcement flow at all stations, a report in this newspaper said.
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Station announcements are crucial in Mumbai where local trains have been a lifeline. There are 118 suburban stations on the Western Railway and Central Railway, which includes the main and harbour lines.
The audio quality is much improved since the transmission is through packet-based switching rather than circuit-based switching. This also means uniform clarity of central announcements across all stations. It is good that the downtime induced by the pandemic has actually given our officials the opportunity to identify lacunae in commuting infra, define the problem and upgrade. This is an admirable way to upscale the most important travel arm in Mumbai, even if it may be temporarily dethroned by the BEST. While some of this upgradation may refer to technicalities, the biggest takeaway is the clarity in announcements on platforms.
Consider this a cycle stand effect. An unclear announcement system leads to ambiguity. The ambiguity will lead to confusion. Confusion leads to panic. Panic leads to unruly behaviour and in tinder boxes that our station platforms are, violence and accidents. Absolute clarity in communication means reassurance for commuters and order at railway stations. At the very least, it spells a hassle-free travel experience. It can even mean the difference between serious accidents, fatalities and life. Regular travellers, taking the trains at peak hours certainly recognise this is not far-fetched. More power to precision and safety. Clarity is cool, we say.
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