Chennai: Lack of functional food stalls has become an irksome affair for the thousands of railway passengers at Tambaram, which is a major hub for suburban, as well as mail and express trains.
Over 10 months ago, the licenses of a major food outlet were terminated due to accumulating dues, and after that many stalls stopped functioning due to tender issues. Amid the contention between stall owners and the Railway, the railway passengers are the ones who are suffering.
“Tambaram is a hub for commuters from far-off places like Villivakkam and Madurai, and yet there is no functional stall for those who wish to have a quick bite. The stalls here have been closed for the past 10 months now,” said Ganapathy V of Perungalathur.
“The one shop open is on platform 8 and it sells only snacks, so passengers who need to eat or drink something are left in a fix,” he added. An official at the Tambaram station said that the outlets with unpaid dues were closed several months back, but the food plaza at Tambaram East will be functional soon. The official added that till then no other stalls are set to open.
A Southern Railway official, however, said that a letter of award has been already issued for two stalls at Tambaram in the first week of January. “They are likely to commence operations in February. Tender is under processing for the allotment of four more stalls and will be completed shortly. In addition, the food plaza of IRCTC will start shortly at the Tambaram station on the East and West sides,” he said.
The food plaza at Tambaram is expected to occupy a space of 15,000 square feet, the largest occupancy in any railway station in the country, and will have outlets from at least 25 brands. According to Railway officials, it will benefit over 1.5 lakh passengers daily.
