CHENNAI: Two months after an 18-year-old college student died while crossing the tracks near Chromepet Railway Station, hundreds of people from Radha Nagar continue to take risky shortcuts to access the station, saying the railway has failed to provide an easy path from the eastern side.
Following the death of S Rajashri in August, the railway constructed compound walls along the GST Road and near the railway parking area, where people used to freely trespass. However, even after the walls were built, trespassing continues as the structures are easily climbable. Scores of people, including the elderly, are seen climbing over the walls to reach the Radha Nagar side and vice versa.
“After the death, we expected the railway at least to deploy police personnel at vulnerable locations, besides creating awareness and imposing fines,” said V Santhanam, president of the Chromepet Railway Users Association.
Passengers also said that commuters from GST Road use Radha Nagar Main Road to reach areas such as Nemilichery, Nanmangalam and Kovilambakkam. Santhanam pointed out that, with the Chromepet bus stop also located close to the station, people from Radha Nagar, in a hurry to catch buses at specific timings often cross the tracks carelessly. With several colleges located on the eastern side of the station, hundreds of students also take the risk by crossing the tracks.
Though there is a subway from Radha Nagar Main Road, there is no connectivity from the subway to the station platforms. Passengers have urged the railway to provide direct access from the subway to the platforms, similar to St Thomas Mount, Meenambakkam and Palavanthangal railway stations.
P Chandrasekaran, a long-time user of the station, said that after reaching GST Road from the Radha Nagar side via the subway, passengers have to walk at least 200m to Platform 1A and then use the footbridge to reach Platform 1 to catch suburban trains towards Tambaram. “It is difficult for elderly, disabled and those with mobility issues. There is no lift or escalator from Platform 1A,” he said.
Similarly, there is no easy access to the station from Radha Nagar. From the station border road, there is a narrow route, while another pathway through the inner streets takes a few hundred metres.
Although these routes can be used to access the station, many people prefer the easier route. Auto drivers in the area said passengers coming from Radha Nagar Main Road may not be aware of the inner routes.
A Southern Railway spokesperson said there was a proposal to extend the existing footbridge and provide a staircase towards the Radha Nagar side. The work is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
The spokesperson said continuous awareness campaigns were being conducted and they are also imposing fines for trespassing regularly.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Civic and Welfare Associations of zones 2 and 3 of Tambaram City Municipal Corporation have submitted a petition to railway officials seeking a two-way walkway between the subway and suburban railway platforms.
However, the Southern Railway official said it was not possible to provide direct connectivity from the subway to the platforms due to lack of space, and that such connectivity was not feasible as it would result in track infringement.
(With inputs from S Kumaresan @Chennai)
