Commuter forums recently met P.V. Vaithiyalingam, advisor (finance), Indian Railway Board, at the Chennai Egmore railway station to discuss long-pending projects and lack of basic amenities at various stations.
The commuter forums, including Traffic and Transportation Forum and Chromepet Rail Users Forum, submitted memorandums to Vaithiyalingam demanding early completion of the Radha Nagar subway, construction of a foot-over-bridge at Perungalathur railway station and provision of basic amenities at the railway stations between Chennai Beach and Tambaram.
V. Rama Rao, project director, Traffic and Transportation Forum, said, “The Velachery-St. Thomas Mount Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) extension project is lying in limbo for the past eight years. Though the legal hurdles have been cleared, no announcements were made in recent railway budget. At present, pillar work has been completed up to Sri Devi Karumari Amman Temple, Thillai Ganga Nagar.”
V. Santhanam, secretary, Chromepet Rail Users Forum, urged the Southern Railway to provide land for the early completion of Radha Nagar subway by the State Highways Department.
“For the past four years, work on constructing the subway has been stopped due to delay in land acquisition from the Railway Department. Pedestrians need to wait for more than 10 minutes to cross the level crossings. Therefore, foot-over-bridges at Radha Nagar Railway Gate and D.G. Vaishnav College Railway Gate, Chromepet, should be constructed,” Santhanam said.
Residents of Pallavaram, Chromepet, Pammal and Pozhichalur have requested that a long-distance reservation booking office be opened either at Pallavaram or Chromepet railway station.
“We have to go to West Tambaram or Tirusulam Railway Station booking office for booking tickets. Having a booking office either at Pallavaram or Chromepet Railway Station will be of great help,” A. Vinod, a resident of Pammal, said.
P.V. Vaithiyalingam, said, “The Velachery-St. Thomas Mount MRTS extension work would be completed as soon as the legal hurdles are cleared. The issue is pending in the Apex Court. Regarding the Radha Nagar subway, a joint meeting, involving the Southern Railway, State government, Pallavaram Municipality and Commuters Forum, would be held soon to discuss the issue.”
