Thousands of daily commuters at Chennai’s Fort railway station are facing hardship due to the absence of a roof on the foot overbridge (FOB), which serves as the sole connection to Muthuswamy Road. The critical link, situated near the Tamil Nadu Government Dental College and Hospital, is essential for many navigating the city’s busy routes.
Lack of Shelter Exposes Commuters to Weather
Fort station is a pivotal point on both the Beach-Chengalpattu and Beach-Velachery suburban train lines, with over 300 services operating daily. The missing roof on the FOB, which has been absent for nearly six months according to commuters, leaves passengers exposed to the sun and rain. Regular commuters have expressed frustration, with some speculating that the contractor may have abandoned the work due to a lack of official oversight.
An auto driver, M. Abbas, highlighted the bridge’s constant use, stating that over a thousand people cross it between 9 am and 11 am, with foot traffic remaining heavy with office-goers and the general public in the evenings. The FOB is a vital passage for government employees, traders heading to Parry’s Corner and Burma Bazaar, passengers en route to the Broadway bus terminus, and those traveling to the Central station.
Calls for Basic Amenities and Timely Repairs
Shyamala Selvadurai, an advocate who uses the bridge regularly, questioned the delay in fixing such a basic amenity. She pointed out that the lack of a roof during recent rainfall left commuters sheltering wherever possible and also raised concerns about the need for an elevator, given the number of elderly individuals who use the facility.
A senior official from Southern Railway acknowledged the issue, stating that while work within the station premises is complete, the roadside and re-roofing works on the FOB will be undertaken soon. The official indicated that the delay in completing these external works is due to the need for coordinating partial traffic regulations and road closures, which will be managed shortly.
This situation at Fort station’s FOB is not an isolated incident of infrastructure neglect. Previous reports have highlighted broader accessibility issues at the station, including demands for escalators and lifts, particularly for the benefit of senior citizens, differently-abled individuals, and daily wage workers. Despite repeated appeals, including formal requests from the Tamil Nadu Secretariat Association, the necessary upgrades have been slow to materialize.
The dismantling of footbridges at stations like Park and Fort was part of the fourth line project between Beach and Egmore, aimed at facilitating track work and the installation of overhead electricity cables. While Southern Railway officials had assured that these bridges would be reconstructed, the progress on the FOB at Fort station appears to have stalled, leaving commuters to contend with the elements.
The ongoing inconvenience faced by thousands of commuters underscores the persistent challenges in maintaining and upgrading public infrastructure in the city. The lack of a simple roof on a crucial foot overbridge at a major railway station highlights a gap in the timely execution of essential repair and reconstruction work, impacting the daily lives of the city’s residents.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
