Steep FoB, non-functional ATVMs make commuters sweat at Beach

If you are a resident of Mannadi keen on burning some quick calories, then Beach station is the place you must regularly visit. Climbing the foot overbridge connecting the concourse area to platforms 5-8 would be the ideal tummy-trimming exercise one could hope for.

The steep, 45-step FoB does not ease mobility for rail commuters, the purpose it was constructed for. Thus, most commuters ignore the FoB, rendering it a mere showpiece.

“The very sight of the daunting stairs forces people to cross the tracks. It would be easily 50 meters long or two floors high. How do they expect us to climb it? We cross the tracks and reach platform 5 to avoid it,” complained K Venugopal, a senior citizen who regularly takes a train to his daughter’s house in Pazhavanthangal.

“Railway officials have probably realised that the people would ignore it, and have hence constructed a ramp adjacent to the concourse area to help people cross the tracks,” Venugopal added.

The FoB is not the only ‘relic’ adorning the station. Many of the electronic displays and automatic ticket vending machines in the concourse area and platform remain non-functional. “Public announcement system is used only minutes before the trains arrive/depart. If the electronic displays worked properly, people would not have to run to reach the particular platform,” rued accountant B Devaki of Chromepet, who travels daily to Mannadi for work.

“There are only four functional ticket counters in any given point of time. During peak hours, non-season pass holders are forced to wait on serpentine queues. Of the three automatic ticket vending machines (ATVM), only one is functional. Those operating the ATVMs must tender exact change. Many even miss trains due to this, which sometimes leads to commotion during peak hours,” said a vendor requesting anonymity.

Regular commuters and season pass holders also complained about inadequate parking space. The paid parking area is too small and nearly full even on Sundays. Many complained about missing trains while trying to find parking space for their bikes. The entire stretch of the road outside the station has been encroached by Burma Bazaar shopkeepers on all days except Sunday.

The station that accommodates over 200 trains has only a small paid toilet in the concourse area. Despite being one of the busiest suburban stations in the city, even drinking water facility has been given a go by. “The water purifier has long gone, only the cage remains on platform 1-2,” said a Railway staff requesting anonymity.

The biggest hassle for commuters is on platform 2 where tiles have popped up in many places, and that too on the edge of the platform. A commuter rushing to board a train could easily overlook them and stumble close to the train. Consequence of such an accident could be disastrous.