CHENNAI: Suburban train commuters making a transit between Chennai Central (Suburban) and Park Station no longer need to climb the steep staircase to access the foot over bridge (FOB) behind the RPF outpost to reach Park Station, as Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) has installed an escalator on the Chennai Central side of the FOB. The facility was made operational from Monday evening. Due to ongoing Metro Rail works on the Poonamallee High Road stretch near Chennai Central, the subway under the road had been closed. Instead, an FOB was provided. With frequent changes on that stretch of the road, the use of the FOB had become unavoidable as crossing the road was not permitted.
The Chennai Central (suburban) Station has a footfall of more than one lakh everyday, with a majority using the FOB to cross over to travel to Mambalam, Guindy and Tambaram on the Beach-Chengalpattu route. The steep flight of stairs on either sides of the FOB caused a great deal of trouble, especially for senior citizens and the disabled who complained of knee and back pain. In the past, City Express had highlighted this issue several times to bring it to the notice of the officials concerned. “Now, at least one-fourth of the journey will be comfortable,” said L Ranganathan, a senior citizen.
With the escalator opened for commuters on Monday evening during peak hours, the technicians sitting beside it told CE that many commuters had thanked them for implementing the service. “As it is with aged people, they are initially a bit circumspect about a moving staircase. But compared to the steep walk, they feel this is more comfortable,” a technician said. Sources said that the entire cost of procuring and installing the escalator was around `60-80 lakh. However, others pointed out that the escalator was not very wide and could accommodate only two persons at a time.
“There are several thousands, who transit between Park and Chennai Central during peak hours. A wider escalator should have been provided. In the rush, children and senior citizens will have to suffer,” said 45-year-old S Lakshmi, who frequents the route. Eighteen-year-old V Vignesh pointed out that his grandparents still had to climb the steep staircase while coming from Park Station to Central. “The authorities should provide an escalator on the Park side of the over-bridge as well,” he said. CE learnt that the local MPs had made requests to the railway administration to provide an escalator on both Chennai Central and Park Station sides, during their meeting with the authorities.
