Revamped stations in Chennai may be safer, earn revenue

The Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) stations in the city are set to get a facelift.

With Chief Minister Jayalalithaa announcing that the stations will have aesthetically-designed premises and many more facilities, including parking lots, citizens feel that their commute will become even more pleasant. The announcement of utilising open spaces for commercial use, including Rs. 40 crore for setting up an office complex in the 1.1 lakh-sq ft-area at Velachery station, is also expected to make stations safer for women.

“Passengers have to bear the stench of garbage on the station premises. If they are spruced up, they can be used for tourism development too,” said M. Bagyashree, a resident of Mylapore, who uses Mundakakanni Amman station regularly.

Commuters feel that escalators and lifts also should be maintained well. “Only then can senior citizens make use of the MRTS facility. Now, many don’t use it as they have to climb the stairs to reach the platform,” she said.

Women passengers feel that anti-social elements may stay away if empty spaces in the stations are used for commercial purposes.  “People will feel safer while remaining on station premises even during non-peak hours,” says Girija Sampath, a government employee.

A senior official of Southern Railway, while welcoming the move to develop commercial space above the Velachery railway station, said that as per an earlier agreement, the State Government could utilise the ‘airspace’ of the railway stations constructed in Phase 2 and those being constructed in Phase 3 (from Velachery to St. Thomas Mount) for commercial exploitation.

He pointed out that space utilisation has been clearly demarcated with the lower space including the parking lots being the property of the Southern Railway and the ‘airspace’ allotted to the State Government.