Pattabiram Commuters Demand Ticket Counter on Western Side of Railway Station

Pattabiram railway station commuters in Chennai are urging Southern Railway to open a ticket counter or install a ticket vending machine on the station's western side to ease their daily travel. Currently, thousands of passengers using the western entrance must climb a steep footover bridge to the eastern side just to purchase tickets, only to cross back to the western side to board Chennai-bound suburban trains.

The Pattabiram station features three platforms. Platform 1 is located on the western side of the station, where trains heading towards Chennai halt. Platforms 2 and 3, which serve trains heading towards Arakkonam, are situated on the eastern side. Everyday, 241 trains pass through this station, making it a critical transit point for the local population.

Thousands of daily commuters, including office-goers, students, and vendors from Pattabiram and its neighbouring areas, rely heavily on these suburban trains to travel to Chennai. Residents of Kamarajapuram, Chennai-Tiruvallur High (CTH) Road, Veppampattu, Nemilichery, and the Outer Ring Road towards Avadi, along with people from more than 20 surrounding villages, regularly use the western entry to reach the station.

Passengers noted that the only functional ticket counter is currently located on the eastern side, near the Poonamallee-Thandurai Road entrance. This setup forces western-side commuters to make the tedious climb over the bridge before they can board.

To resolve the issue, the Pattabiram Rail Passengers Association has proposed utilizing recently cleared land. A few months ago, the railways cleared bushes near the station to create a large parking area, which features a newly constructed building currently being used by a private contractor.

A Roy Rosario, president of the Pattabiram Rail Passengers Association, suggested that this building could instead be converted into a ticket counter, or at least a self-ticket vending machine could be installed there to assist commuters.