CHENNAI: Mobile charging boxes installed at railway stations to meet passengers emergency needs have been damaged and non-functional at several locations. In some stations, these boxes are not available at all.
Passengers have specifically complained about the poor condition of mobile charging boxes at Beach, Fort, Egmore, and Chetpet stations. At several locations, switches and electrical wires inside the boxes were hanging outside, posing serious safety risks.
It is reported that at most railway stations, only the mobile charging boxes installed near the Station Master’s or railway officials’ rooms are operational. Even at major stations like Park, Saidapet, Guindy, and St Thomas Mount, only a few charging boxes are functioning properly.
While passengers depend on mobile phones for ticket booking, navigation, and communication for daily travel, the lack of functional charging facilities at local railway stations has become a major concern. During low battery situations, passengers are rely on charging points at stations, which are presently unreliable.
Railway stations serve as major transit points for office-goers, college students, and long-distance travellers. A passenger said, “I book my tickets daily using the UTS app. When my phone battery runs low, I depend on the mobile charging boxes at railway stations. Unfortunately, only a few work now. As a commuter, I manage somehow, but this situation causes serious difficulties for long-distance passengers and those travelling at night.”
Railway officials admitted to the problem of non-functional charging boxes, and stated that “maintenance works at several stations have damaged the wires connected to some mobile charging boxes, and temporarily disconnected them. Complaints regarding damaged and non-functional mobile charging boxes have been forwarded to the Railway Electrical Department, and necessary repairs will be carried out at the earliest.”