Commuters have converted a gap in an incomplete compound wall at the Ambattur railway station into an open urinal. Residents of GNG Colony in Ambattur complain that commuters use this open space as a short-cut to reach a railway station also use it as a urinal, while on their way to boarding the local trains.
Residents of Third Street in GNG Colony, Ambattur, which connects the railway station to the Chennai–Tiruvallur High (CTH) Road, have been suffering the most due to this menace.
“As the foul smell emanating from the open space is unbearable, we have to take a de-tour around our neighbourhood to reach the railway station via Bazaar Road. Either Chennai Corporation or Southern Railway has to close the open space in the interests of the public,” says T. Gunaseelan, a long-time resident of Ambattur.
Located between the railway stations at Thirumullavoyal and Pattaravakkam, the Ambattur railway station is an important public transport facility for hundreds of college students and industrial workers from the Ambattur Industrial Estate. Besides this, residents of Padi, Mannurpet, Karukku, Kallikuppam, Menambedu and Pattaravakkam board trains from the station to reach various places, including Arakkonam, Avadi, Villivakkam, Perambur and Chennai Central. Incidentally, it takes commuters from Ambattur, Pattaravakkam and adjoining areas, less than 10 minutes to reach the Rail Loco Works in Perambur, by train.
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 in 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 in the city with a flow of around three lakh commuters every day. Further, miscreants also use this open space to trespass into railway property and squat around the open space after sunset. “Why should we bear this nuisance created by residents and commuters from other areas who board trains at the railway station?” asks S. Vimla, a resident of GNG Colony.
Railway officials say the existing public toilets at the railway station are insufficient, resulting in commuters using open spaces as open toilets. Steps are being taken to close the open space, say the railway authorities. In the meantime, railway officials say that the civic body can also install bio-toilets at a few crowded spots en route to the railway station.
