Platform Curve Issue Delays Adambakkam MRTS Station Opening on Velachery Line

The opening of the Adambakkam railway station along the MRTS corridor linking Velachery to St Thomas remains delayed as authorities work to resolve a large gap between the platform and trains, Chennai Divisional Railway Manager Shailendra Singh said on Friday.

The 4.5-kilometre Phase 2 extension of the MRTS network, which connects Velachery to St Thomas through Adambakkam and Puzhuthivakkam, was opened in March this year. However, trains currently do not halt at Adambakkam because of the gap created by a sharp track curve at the station.

Speaking to the media, Singh stated that the corrective engineering design has not yet been finalised. He explained that statutory clearance from the Commissioner of Railway Safety can only be sought and obtained after the platform gap issue is fully resolved.

The update was shared alongside a broader review of safety, capacity, and passenger amenities across the Chennai division. Singh noted that Southern Railway has constructed 12 foot overbridges, 26 lifts, and seven escalators across regional stations. At Tambaram railway station, a new foot overbridge has been completed, while escalator installation remains underway with completion targeted within the current financial year.

To improve safety and operational efficiency across the network, the division has also renewed 186 track kilometres, installed 300 kilometres of fencing along railway tracks, closed 12 manned level crossings, commissioned seven electronic interlocking systems, and set up 18 lifting barriers.

According to Singh, Southern Railway carried 47.298 crore passengers during 2025-26, marking an increase from the 42.5 crore passengers handled in the previous financial year. To manage the commuter rush, the railway zone operated 3,559 special trains and attached 1,557 extra coaches to regular train services.