Chennai trains enter Wi-Fi platform

CHENNAI: If Chennai International Airport is the first Airport in India to go Wi-Fi, now Chennai has to its credit of getting the first Wi-Fi railway station. Southern Railway in association with DishnetDSL has launched a Wi-Fi Internet Zone, which has coverage of 100 meters within Chennai Central railway station.

Speaking to CyberMedia News, deputy chief mechanical engineer of Southern Railway (Chennai) T Venkatasubramanian said that this initiative is part of their project for an e-enabled railway station. "Chennai being the cyber capital there is a huge population comprising of professionals and tourists who carry laptops with them.

In a years time, this population has definitely increased. So with this Wi-Fi Internet zone, passengers can browse while they are waiting for their trains. Our intention is to make available the latest IT and communication facility to all the passengers."

The Wi-Fi zone covers the main hall and the new hall of the Central railway station. Currently, two Access Points have been installed. As an inaugural offer, Wi-Fi Internet service will be offered free of cost upto March 31, 2004. After which, it will be available for Rs 60 per hour. "But based on the response we plan to lower the cost," remarked DishnetDSL Ltd associate VP, VG Suri.

CyberMedia News