There is a heavy rush of students and working professionals staying in the city from other districts to grab a bus, train and flight ticket to their native places for the long weekend beginning Friday night (May 13). With Monday (May 16), the poll date, being a holiday, a lion's share of confirmed tickets are already sold out.
Third and second class air-conditioned coach tickets to Chennai on Nilgiris Express, Cheran Express and Chennai Mail are sold out for May 13, 14 and 15. First class tickets are also not available on these days, forcing people to at least book a waitlisted ticket or wait for tatkal counters to open a day prior to their proposed journey date.
"I have booked a ticket, waitlisted at 10, for the Cheran Express on May 13 and a return ticket on May 16, which is waitlisted at 28," rued Vishwa Das, from Chennai, who works in private bank in the city. The flight charges have also gone up now. "Two-way flight tickets to Chennai would now cost over 5,000," said Karun Senthil, a businessman.
While only less than 27 travellers were so far waitlisted to Madurai and Chennai on May 13 and 14, at least 47 travellers were waitlisted on May 16 that too in third AC class. "I have decided to approach a travel agent to book a tatkal ticket on May 16 night," said software engineer D Sreesha.
Coimbatorians working in cities such as Chennai and Bengaluru are finding it even harder to travel back home for the long weekend. Shruthi Sarathy, a junior lawyer working in Chennai, has booked flight tickets after she failed to secure train tickets. "Both Nilgiri Express and Cheran Express have over 100 travellers waitlisted for Friday itself," she said.
Many have, meanwhile, decided to opt for buses as there are a few vacant seats. "I am seriously considering to book a bus ticket instead of depending on takal," said Senthil.
Third and second class air-conditioned coach tickets to Chennai on Nilgiris Express, Cheran Express and Chennai Mail are sold out for May 13, 14 and 15. First class tickets are also not available on these days, forcing people to at least book a waitlisted ticket or wait for tatkal counters to open a day prior to their proposed journey date.
"I have booked a ticket, waitlisted at 10, for the Cheran Express on May 13 and a return ticket on May 16, which is waitlisted at 28," rued Vishwa Das, from Chennai, who works in private bank in the city. The flight charges have also gone up now. "Two-way flight tickets to Chennai would now cost over 5,000," said Karun Senthil, a businessman.
While only less than 27 travellers were so far waitlisted to Madurai and Chennai on May 13 and 14, at least 47 travellers were waitlisted on May 16 that too in third AC class. "I have decided to approach a travel agent to book a tatkal ticket on May 16 night," said software engineer D Sreesha.
Coimbatorians working in cities such as Chennai and Bengaluru are finding it even harder to travel back home for the long weekend. Shruthi Sarathy, a junior lawyer working in Chennai, has booked flight tickets after she failed to secure train tickets. "Both Nilgiri Express and Cheran Express have over 100 travellers waitlisted for Friday itself," she said.
Many have, meanwhile, decided to opt for buses as there are a few vacant seats. "I am seriously considering to book a bus ticket instead of depending on takal," said Senthil.