How CSK beat the odds, booked train for 50L and took fans to Pune

Heeding to requests by the CSK Fan Club, the team management swung into action by providing a chartered train trip that took nearly 1,000 fans to watch the match against Rajasthan Royals on Friday.  “We have acted on an initiative taken by the fans and the management chose to make it a reality,” said a CSK official. 

According to railway officials here, CSK has agreed to the regular fare for the 1000 passengers (to and fro) in the special Chennai-Pune-Chennai train plus other charges including detention charge for a day (train will be idle for a day in Pune) plus hauling charge and 20% service charge. A rough calculation of operating the train from Chennai to Pune is pegged to be Rs 25 lakh (one-way). It is estimated that the CSK management could have spent between Rs 50-Rs 60 lakh for just the train charges alone. “CSK had to furnish the list of 1,000 passengers to Railway authorities beforehand, so that no other passenger could board the train during the journey. While there wouldn’t be a TTE in this particular train, other TTEs can board the train in wayside stations for checking,” a railway official said. 

The franchise’s gesture to bear the entire expenses of the fans’ stay in Pune, that includes food, local transportation, and match tickets was lauded by the CSK official fan club joint secretary AR Sriram. 

“We requested the management if any arrangement could be made for our travel to Pune. And, without any hesitation they came up with this effort. It’s a noble gesture on their part,” he added. 

Saravanan Hari, the most recognisable face among the Yellow Brigade and a die-hard fan of MS Dhoni, who is on board the ‘Whistlepodu Express’ said he was thrilled to be embarking on this journey. “I can’t contain my excitement. I am grateful to the CSK management for making the arrangements to go to Pune for the match,” he added.