Commuter inconvenience: Lack of platform connectivity, basic facilities irks commuters

Chennai

Wimco Nagar Railway station has around 500 passengers using the facility every day. They have no choice but walk on the tracks as there is no foot overbridge connecting the platforms. The commuters also complain that there is lack of safety as the Railway Protection Force (RPF) visits the station only once or twice a week and stays only for a few hours.

Adding to the commuters’ woes, the station has no proper entrance, due to which the public is forced to walk through a market to reach the station. The station lacks a signboard, too.

Like many other railway stations in North Chennai, the station has no announcement systems to inform the arrival of trains. Though there are separate toilets for both men and women, they remain locked throughout the day. There is neither a drinking water facility nor garbage bins inside the station.

“Without an overbridge, we are forced to cross the track while risking our lives. We could find many people, including women and senior citizens, running across the tracks just before the train arrives at the platform. Due to this, many accidents occur here. We have also filed complaints at the nearby police station, but nothing has changed. Apart from this, there is no safety for the public in the evenings. Policemen come here every once in a while and hardly stay for three hours,” said Muthukumaran E, a passenger from Gummidipundi.

“There have been reports of mobile snatching in the late evenings and despite knowing the situation, the police have taken no action to monitor the station or improve the safety of passengers,” he added.

Commuters have also complained that they must walk for about a kilometre to reach the nearby bus stop or autorickshaw stand. There is also a lack of parking facility in the station. The station is also not disabled-friendly and does not have any ramps. There is a toilet for disabled passengers but that remains locked, too. However, there are roofs on both the platforms and digital clocks are functioning.

“There is no announcement made when trains arrive. If we complain to the official in-charge, he makes the announcement for the next train and again continues to ignore the rules. Without any announcement it is difficult to know where the train is headed towards and sometimes we miss the train,” said Kalaiarasan V, a passenger from Manali.

Speaking to DT Next, Wimco Nagar Railway station in-charge said, “We have informed the station master in Tiruvottiyur for RPF deployment. There has been no response from them yet. We make announcements during peak hours and the toilets will be opened for the passengers if they request to use it.”

Visit news.dtnext.in to explore our interactive epaper!

Download the DT Next app for more exciting features!

Click here for iOS

Click here for Android