Suburban electric train services between Tambaram and Chennai Beach, introduced many years before India gained Independence, may be the first fully electrified route, but even after several decades, the suburban Tambaram station is still plagued by a host of issues.
Lack of toilets for long-distance commuters, lack of connectivity from mainline platforms to suburban lines, and the need for additional walking space for commuters are some of the problems that the Tambaram station faces now. “Commuters feel that while Southern Railway takes pride in developing the western part of the railway station premises, east Tambaram has been given a raw deal.
B.V. Saravanan, a commuter from Rajakilpakkam, says that it is difficult to identify the station road from Velachery Main Road as not even a single signage can be seen from that end.
Like many others, he says that Southern Railway earns a considerable amount of revenue by renting out its space to private companies that advertise through hoardings after due permission. “The station, catering to thousands of people and serving as one of the nerve centres of Chennai for decades, was recently spruced up and some repair work was carried out by Railways.
But more must be done if it is to be developed as a third terminal after Chennai Central and Chennai Egmore, say commuters forums.
It is difficult to identify the station road from Velachery Main Road as not even a single signage can be seen from that end
