CHENNAI: The Washermenpet railway station in the Chennai Beach to Arakkonam/Gummidipoondi section was found littered with garbage. Adding to the waste accumulation, there were several stray dogs in the station.
When DT Next visited, the waste being scattered across the tracks was witnessed. A huge amount of waste, including plastic and other waste, was also dumped in the railway premises.
"The station is also used for several illegal activities, as many drunkards walk along the premises at night. This is a common sight in many railway stations across the stretch," said Murthy, a regular train commuter from Washermenpet to Chintadripet. It's unsafe for the passengers to travel at night through this place, he added.
Dogs were found roaming through the platforms and the stairs, causing fear among the passengers. In November 2025, there was a Supreme Court directive about removing the stray dogs from all public spaces, including railway stations. Outside the railway station and near the metro station, dogs were found barking at the passengers, causing fear.
The disabled toilet in the station also remained closed. The station also required a larger number of shelters in addition to the current ones, as one side of the seaters in the station is without shelters.
In March 2025, finance minister Thangam Thennarasu had mentioned in his budget speech that the multimodal transport terminals would be established, integrating the Washermenpet railway station, metro station and the Vallalar Nagar bus terminus, at a cost of Rs 50 crore.
When contacted by DT Next, the railway officials were not available for a comment.