Tambaram-Chengalpattu stretch: Slow pace of railway line irks commuters
Chennai: A year after work was started on the Rs 256 crore third railway line between Tambaram and Chengalpattu, not much progress is evident adding to the woes of train commuters and congestion on city roads.
After the budget allocation for the third line, passengers were hopeful of hassle free travel but the line that was supposed to be completed within a year has crossed its tentative deadline and struggles of commuters still continue.
The work on the line that began in February last year had to be completed by now, but the work is going on at snail’s pace. The officials blame it on the lack of allocation of funds by Railways, but commuters have to face everyday plight.
Bad frequency of trains on Tambaram-Chengalpattu line makes it difficult for daily passengers including office employees and students.
“Trains run every 30 minutes, so they are overcrowded with a lot of passengers traveling daily. One cannot find enough place to stand and have to stand of footboards, which sometimes lead to accidents,” said Gajalakshmi S, an employee in Potheri.
These woes are an everyday affair and officials are well acquainted with it since the line was proposed. There are many accidents reported on the line because of footboard travel, but the authorities are indifferent.
When questioned about the issue, an official from the construction department of Southern Railway said, “The aim is to reduce office hour traffic with the upcoming line. The work is likely to be completed by the end of this year, and we are speeding up on it. This will be a facilitation for around 1.5 lakh commuters who travel along the stretch daily.”
People generally take to other modes of transport due to late arrival of trains and less frequency, but this adds to the traffic woes on the route at peak hours. “It takes around two hours to pass through Vandalur and Guduvanchery, which becomes even worse during peak hours,” said Murali Krishnan, a student in Tambaram.
The stretch has around 10 engineering colleges, Vandaloor zoo, several tech parks and Perungalathur bus depot, which is a major bus depot for traveling outskirts.
Even after being a significant stretch for people, it is not maintained by the authorities. Commuters are hopeful that the third railway line will be functional soon, bringing an end to traffic woes.
