After Swathi’s murder, which took place at the Nungambakkam railway station, commuters at the small railway station in Annanur, near Thirumullavoyal, are scared of boarding local trains from the station especially after sunset as the facility is plagued by poor illumination and is located far away from the quiet neighbourhood.
Located between the railway stations at Thirumullavoyal and Avadi, the Annanur station is an important public transport facility for hundreds of college students and industrial workers, who are employed at the Industrial units in the neighbourhood, to reach various areas, including Arakkonam, Avadi, Villivakkam, Perambur and Chennai Central.
In fact, it takes around half an hour to reach Central railway station from Annanur and adjoining areas.
On the other hand, bus commuters from these localities have to spend nearly two hours to reach Chennai Central during rush hour.
“After the gruesome murder, safety remains the top priority for us. In terms of safety, Annanur railway station leaves a lot to be desired,” said S. Kavitha, a commuter from Annanur.
At the Annanur railway station, which was electrified in 1979, on an average, around 20,000 suburban commuters board trains every day. Of the four tracks, two are meant for suburban trains. Recently, the sandy platform was replaced with a cement concrete floor.
Tiles were provided on the platform, along the track, to provide grip for commuters while boarding the train.
Old light fittings are being repaired. A fresh coat of paint is being given to signboards at the station.
However, the biggest concern for commuters, especially women, is poor surveillance, including lack of a police outpost at the railway station. Unlike the stations in Avadi, Thirumullavoyal, Ambattur, Villivakkam and Perambur, the Annanur railway station is cut off from the neighbourhood.
After sunset, especially on Sundays, the station is deserted. In fact, beneath the granite benches at the station, broken liquor bottles could be found. With poor illumination, the station turns a den for anti-socials after sunset.
Railway officials said that hundreds of commuters from as far as Arakkonam, Tirutani and Tiruvallur reach the city through suburban rail network daily. And every day, on an average, around 260 trips are being made by suburban trains on the western rail route between Chennai Central and Arakkonam, which is the last suburban railway station on the western part of the city.
In fact, after the Chennai Beach – Tambaram section, the Chennai Central – Arakkonam, around 80km from the city, is the busiest suburban rail route with around three lakh commuters using it every day.