The Southern Railway is investing close to Rs. 2 crore to spruce up and create new amenities at Egmore railway station, an elegant 108-year-old landmark in the city.
The main building, the most striking feature of the station complex built in Indo-Saracenic style, is being repainted in its original brick red colour. With over 22,000 passengers using the station everyday — 12,000 suburban commuters and the rest travelling in long-distance trains — Southern Railway began the work here as part of a station improvement project in March.
The new amenities include two escalators and two lifts for passengers to reach the platforms with ease. Work on one of the lifts on Gandhi Irwin Road is nearly complete and work on linking it and the foot overbridge would be taken up soon, officials said.
Another one on Poonamallee High Road side, along with an escalator, will help passengers, especially the elderly, reach main line and suburban stations easily. Currently, there were two escalators connecting mainline platforms 3 and 4 and 5 and 6, officials said.
Workers are also building a compound wall around the station on Gandhi Irwin Road. The improvised six-feet tall wall is designed to reflect the style of the main building. Once the work is completed, landscaping work will begin.
Further, a toilet is being constructed on the southern end of platforms 10 and 11. This is the first time that suburban passengers will have access to a toilet at the station.
By August-end
All improvement works are expected to be completed by the end of August, officials said.
The railway station was opened in June 1908, but it was not until the creation of Southern Railway in 1951 that it became the most important terminal in Chennai for trains to the State’s southern districts.
Meanwhile, commuters have appealed to the Southern Railway to reopen the vegetarian and non-vegetarian light refreshment stalls that were shut down a few months ago.