Commuters raise concern over flooding in railway station subways in west section

Commuters using the western section of the suburban railway have a tough time accessing a few railway stations  as rain inundates the subways. 

Southern Railway constructed the subways with the aim of providing commuters with a safe way to cross the tracks as well as to access several railway stations including Vyasarpadi Jeeva, Perambur, Perambur Loco Works, Annanur, and Tiruvallur. However, some stations, such as Vyasarpadi Jeeva, Perambur Loco Works, and Annanur, the subways have leaks, which leads to rainwater flooding them and making them unusable.

Raghukumar Choodamani, convenor of the Perambur Neighbourhood Development Forum, said the subway at the Perambur Loco Works railway station was constructed only a few years ago but got flooded even during light rain. He alleged that the subway was shut for several months to carry out repairs after complaints were sent to the authorities, but was reopened without being restored properly. Commuters complained that during the recent rain, which lashed the city during the past week, the subway once again got flooded.

Commuters said the subways at the Vyasarpadi Jeeva and Annanur railway stations were inundated every northeast monsoon.

Consumer activist T. Sadagopan said the Annanur railway station subway, which was constructed to allow commuters to cross the railway tracks safely, had been flooded for more than a month.

He added that a large number of college students had been put to hardship as they had to climb the railings installed in the subway to cross it and reach the railway station in Annanur.

A senior official of the Chennai division of Southern Railway said steps had been taken to pump out the stagnant water in the subway at the Perambur Loco Works railway station.