Commuters affected due to slow work on subway in Perungalathur

As construction of the subway by the railways started last year is not yet completed, commuters are forced to reach the railway station by climbing over a concrete structure readied for the third platform.

On an average, over 30,000 passengers use the Perungalathur railway station daily. After several requests, the railways decided to build a pedestrian subway connecting the GST road. 

Officials who began work on the project in February 2017 promised that it would be completed within six months. But the work did not proceed as planned. 

In November 2017, it was completely stopped due to heavy rain. After the work resumed, officials promised that the construction would be finished by February this year. However, only 50 per cent of the work has got over till now. 

Causing more grief to commuters, the railways has blocked a path, regularly taken by the travelling public to reach the railway station, to construct the third platform for the Chengalpattu-Tambaram line. 

Faced with the prospect of taking a circuitous approach, commuters prefer instead to climb the concrete structure and cross the railway track to reach the station. 

Speaking to DT Next, R Meenaa, a resident of Perungalathur said, “Walking to the railway station is a hard task for me. I don’t think the Railways care for our safety.” 

Others pointed out that the officials should have started work on constructing the platform only after the subway work was over. 

When contacted, Southern Railways Divisional Engineer N Jayakumar said, “ We will look into the issue and create a proper pathway for the public to reach the station without any disturbance.”  He also assured that the subway work would be completed soon.