Kilambakkam Halt Railway Station Likely to Open by Deepavali

The inauguration of the new Kilambakkam halt railway station is likely to take place around Deepavali this year, Southern Railway Additional Divisional Railway Manager Dr I Senthil Kumar announced on Friday. Located between Vandalur and Urappakkam stations, the facility is set to provide direct rail connectivity for passengers heading to the Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus.

The project has experienced delays after construction commenced in 2024 and missed its original inauguration schedule last year. Work has been carried out jointly with the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, which is constructing a 450-metre pedestrian skywalk across GST Road to directly link the bus terminal with the halt station.

Speaking to the press, the ADRM stated that the Tamil Nadu government deposited Rs 20.82 crore for the station's construction. Platform 1 is fully finished, while work on platforms 2 and 3 is nearing completion. The track works, along with a temporary booking office and public toilets on platform 1, have already been completed.

Officials noted that the CMDA has completed approximately 30 percent of the pedestrian skywalk. The section of the skywalk spanning the railway tracks remains pending, and the development authority has sought permission from Southern Railway to proceed. Railway authorities expect their remaining works to conclude by October, once the CMDA completes skywalk construction over platforms 2 and 3. A memorandum of understanding is also being finalized regarding future maintenance of the station.

Currently, public transit access to the Kilambakkam bus terminus is limited primarily to Metropolitan Transport Corporation bus services. Commuters traveling from Chennai's core city areas frequently encounter heavy traffic congestion and pay between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 for auto-rickshaws or cabs, especially during peak festival periods. Officials expect the operational halt station to establish Kilambakkam as a seamless multimodal transport hub.