For almost two years since the opening of first stretch of Chennai Metro Rail from Koyambedu to Alandur, commuters have been grappling without a foot overbridge at Alandur station.
Vasumathi Rajan, a commuter from Koyambedu who travels to Alandur via Chennai Metro Rail, said she gets off at the station, crosses the road and walks to her place near Kathipara junction.
“Since I travel during rush hour, there is no way I can jump the median. So I have to walk all the way to a subway which is not too close to the station. If they have a foot overbridge connected directly to the station, it will be helpful,” she said. The subway is a little far-off from the station. Chennai Metro Rail has a foot-over-bridge in Koyambedu which directly connects the concourse level of the station to the other side of the road. This kind of a facility will be greatly helpful in Alandur, commuters say.
Officials of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) said they have already called for tenders for a foot overbridge sometime back. “But it may take at least another six months before it is in place. Then, commuters can easily hop over to the other end of the road,” an official said. Muralidhar G, another commuter, said, “They should have planned it before opening this stretch itself. Commuters need not suffer for two years.”
