Representative picture
The 4.5km extension was inaugurated on March 14 and full-scale suburban services began between St Thomas Mount and Chennai Beach. Southern Railway operates at least 43 MRTS services from Chennai Beach-St Thomas Mount, and six dedicated shuttle services between Velachery and St Thomas Mount. The train journey takes only 12 minutes, but it takes another 10 minutes to reach Puzhuthivakkam by bike.
the other station on the extension, Adambakkam, remains non-operational due to a safety issue involving the platform alignment While trains halt at Puzhuthivakkam. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Chennai | Silver Rate in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai | Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Petrol Price in Chennai | Diesel Price in Chennai | CNG Price in Chennai | LPG Price in Chennai Stay updated with the latest Chennai news.
Railway officials earlier said the construction wing was examining options to rectify the problem, including modifications to the platform and track. They said the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) would provide the required design and that the alignment could be corrected within a month after the design was finalised. A senior railway official said, “Most of the civic work at the station, except increasing the platform height, has been completed. But if the issue at Adambakkam is resolved at the earliest, it will make it make our lives so much easier,” said T Sathish Kumar of Adambakkam.
Chennai: More than seven months after the Velachery–St Thomas Mount MRTS extension opened, trains continue to pass through Adambakkam station without stopping, denying residents of Adambakkam, Nanganallur and Madipakkam the benefits of a railway station close by. The chief commissioner of railway safety (CCRS), Janak Kumar Garg, identified an excess gap between the train and the platform on a curve during an inspection in March. The gap on the left side of the platform was found to be around 20cm more than the permissible standard, following which clearance was not given for trains to halt at the station. However, seven months after the extension opened, the station is yet to receive clearance for passenger halts. To correct the platform alignment, a proposal has been sent to the south CRS, once approved, the redesign work will begin at Adambakkam station and will be completed by year-end. The delay has forced residents to travel to Puzhuthivakkam or St Thomas Mount to board MRTS trains. “Every day, I have to travel to Puzhuthivakkam station to take the train to St Thomas Mount. It is still faster than taking a cab or auto. Download the TOI App.