Commuters at the Tambaram railway station have requested officials of Southern Railway to take steps to whitewash and paint a wall on a lane situated on the premises of the terminal.
At present, the lane is used as a public convenience and a smoking zone.
Moreover, tipplers use it as a open bar. A foul smell emanates from the stretch, making it nauseating for commuters as they enter and leave the station.
Commuters predominantly use a foot-over-bridge that connects East and West Tambaram, to reach West Tambaram market and West Tambaram bus terminus.
The police have put up a warning board asking people not to urinate near the wall on the lane and that action will be taken against offenders.
Still, passersby, especially school and college students, continue to do so. The parallel lane is used by pedestrians and motorists from West Tambaram to reach Bharatha Matha Street, Periyalwar Street and Sundaram Colony, East Tambaram. The worst-affected are residents of houses located on a parallel lane. The doors and windows of these houses remain closed.
Residents complain many representations to the authorities concerned have gone in vain. “There is a pay-and-use toilet located opposite the ticket counter. But people do not use it,” residents added.
The East Tambaram terminus bus stop abuts the wall lining the lane. As premises of the bus stop are filthy, the benches there are occupied by mendicants. Bus commuters are forced to stand under the tree branches near the lane.
A police personnel said, “Patrolling is done at regular intervals on the premises of the railway station to put an end to open urination. Steps will be taken to intensify the patrolling.”
