Commuters raise concern over poor amenities at Vandalur railway station

Hundreds of office-goers, students and traders depend on suburban train services at Vandalur railway station every day. With frequent EMU and MEMU services operated by Southern Railway between Chengalpattu and Chennai Beach, and the occasional halts by express trains, the station has seen a steady rise in footfall in recent years.

A major grievance flagged by commuters is the closure of a public toilet on the platform adjacent to the GST Road entrance. Though neatly constructed for passenger use, the facility remains locked and out of service, causing hardship for women and elderly, during peak hours.

A Railways employee claimed she was forced to cross four platforms using the overbridge to just access a toilet. “It becomes particularly difficult for women during rush hour,” she said.

Railway officials said the toilet was closed because of misuse by miscreants and concerns over anti-social activities.

Commuters pointed out that monitoring the facility should be the responsibility of enforcement agencies. “Locking a toilet meant for passengers cannot be the solution,” said a local activist.

The lack of effective security monitoring is another major concern. Commuters allege that the open land adjacent to the station has become a hotspot for anti-social activities, especially after dark.

“People in an inebriated state frequently gather there. There have been complaints ranging from ganja peddling and theft to harassment,” said an activist from Vandalur. According to him, miscreants often evade police patrols by slipping onto the tracks, exploiting jurisdictional gaps between the police and the Railway Protection Force (RPF).

Passengers also complain about the lack of drinking water taps and irregular garbage clearance on some platforms. These issues, they said, further diminish the commuting experience at a busy suburban station. Railway officials said that work to install lifts at the station is under way to improve accessibility for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

New parking facility

Recently, the Railways leased out land on the GST Road for a private two-wheeler parking facility that opened in December. Earlier, commuters approaching from the eastern side were forced to take a long detour to access parking on the western side, often losing at least 20 minutes during peak hours.

The parking yard can accommodate over 500 vehicles at subsidised rates of ₹10 for cycles and ₹15 for two-wheelers for 24 hours, apart from monthly passes.