Chennai Citizen Connect: Redevelopment works at Egmore pose safety risks for commuters

CHENNAI: The inconvenience faced by commuters due to the ongoing redevelopment works at Egmore railway station has remained a concern for several years, with passengers flagging safety risks, particularly at Platform 11 A.

The redevelopment works began in 2022 and were initially expected to be completed within a year. However, commuters travelling towards Chennai Beach and alighting at Platform 11 A continue to face difficulties while exiting the platform. The passage on the left side is fenced and extremely narrow, making movement unsafe, passengers said.

Office-goers rushing to exit the station risk being hit by passing trains, while parents travelling with small children face added danger, commuters pointed out.

“If we move to the left, there is a risk of slipping or falling, and if we move to the right, there is the danger of being hit by a train. During rains, the left side becomes slushy with water,” said Shanmugham, a regular commuter who travels from Pallavaram to Egmore.

Passengers who alight from coaches positioned further behind have to walk a longer distance through the narrow stretch with caution. On the opposite side, construction materials, including iron rods stacked behind green fencing, add to the risk. Visually impaired commuters were seen navigating the stretch with extra care.

The problem is compounded during night hours, when inadequate lighting makes the passage even more hazardous. “The area is quite dark at night and needs more lights for safe movement,” another passenger said.

Responding to the concerns, a railway official at Egmore station said an initial proposal to completely close the area was dropped after considering practical difficulties.

“Since one side of the train remains open, passengers would still alight there, which could be more dangerous. Persons with disabilities using wheelchairs also access the station through the ramp from the Metro station, so the plan was revised,” the official said.

The official added that green fencing was installed to ensure passenger safety and that the works at Platform 11 A were expected to be completed within another three months, after which the fencing would be removed.