Be it the blazing sun or a heavy downpour, commuters exiting the Moore Market Complex (MMC) suburban railway station in Park Town to reach the bus stops across the Poonamallee High Road had to brave it all. Not any more.
Southern Railway has constructed a huge shelter at the entrance of the railway station to allow the train commuters to reach the bus stops via Chennai Central station without any inconvenience.
The shelter was opened about a week ago.
“We used to wait on the verandah of the railway station to avoid getting drenched in the rain or roasted under the sun. Senior citizens and women were affected the most. During rainy season, getting across to the bus stops was a tough task as the road would be slushy and slippery. The shelter is a boon to the commuters,” says S. Gunasekaran, commuter from Athipet near Minjur.
The new steel shelter is around 20 feet long and six feet wide. The shelter also combats a long-time problem at the railway station premises: unauthorised entry of cabs and autorickshaws to reach Poonamallee High Road.
These vehicles used to occupy much of the space as they wait to pick up passengers. “Now the pathway is only for pedestrians. Lights will be installed on the shelter for better visibility,” says a Southern Railway official.
