Citizen Connect: Miscreants, dumping and inadequate lighting scare commuters on Pallavaram station road

But when DT Next dove in deeper, it was found that commuters using the road next to the plot fear for their safety.

Residents of the area said that a few people have raised tents and encroached the plot. Besides littering in the area, they were seen consuming alcohol in the public.

K Venkatesan from Palavaram said that he had brought the issue to the notice of officials at the railway station. “Though the authorities and railway police cleared the encroachers, they came back after a few days, creating problem in the area again. They defecate in the open and throw garbage indiscriminately. I take the station road regularly and leave my two-wheeler at the parking lot. The half-a-kilometre stretch is dotted by garbage including construction waste. It poses danger, especially in the night,” he added.

A senior official from Pallavaram railway station said that they are planning to erect a fence to keep the encroachers at bay. “We have sent a proposal to our head office. They are yet to release funds,” he added.

K Rukumani, a fruit vendor on Pallavaram station road, said that women hesitate to use the road as there is no adequate lighting at night and they are scared of miscreants in the area. “I have seen people using the land to consume liquor, especially after nightfall,” she added.

The fruit seller said that the railway police take action only against small vendors along the station road. “They (railway police) only target us. Street lights should be installed immediately so that people will not indulge in illegal activities here,” she rued.

Rukumani added that a chain-snatching attempt was reported in the area recently.

A policeman, deployed at the station, said that most of the security officials appointed in the station are from the other states.

“it would be difficult for the public to communicate with them. Authorities should appoint officers who can speak the local language for the benefit of the public.