Every time it rains, commuters at Tambaram railway station contend with conditions worsened by poorly-maintained water pipes fitted to the roofing over the suburban platforms.
The water pipes, fitted underneath the roofing over platforms no. 1 and 2, drain rain water on the railway tracks through smaller pipes fixed on the pillars that support the roofing.
The pipes have become completely corroded by rust in many spots and have broken down near the Vegetarian Light Refreshment stall.
“When it rains, water pours down from the roof on to the platform, with the intensity of a small waterfall,” said R. Bhaskaran, a resident of Tambaram who commutes by the suburban electric trains every day.
However, he pointed out, at the northern most part of the platforms, where the roofing and the pipes fitted below were in a perfect condition, the platforms were nearly dry.
The tiled flooring adds to the problem by making the platforms slippery.
The pipes had been in their current condition since December last year, Bhaskaran said.
“I don’t understand how it has not come to the attention of Southern Railway authorities for so long. They probably did not expect the summer showers,” he said.
Commuters alighting from suburban electric trains have to get down carefully, to avoid the sudden bursts of water from the pipes above.
“Tambaram is among the most important railway stations in the region and if this is the case here, I shudder to imagine the conditions in other suburban stations on the Chengalpattu-Kancheepuram sector,” said S. Jayaram, a college student.
