Southern Railway and CUMTA Plan Safe Access Pathway to Chrompet Railway Station

Southern Railway, in coordination with the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA), has planned an alternate and safe pathway to the Chrompet Railway Station from the Radha Nagar subway side.

Upon completion, the planned facility will provide safe and convenient entry and exit passageways for passengers accessing the station from the Radha Nagar side.

The Chennai Division of Southern Railway acknowledged the safety concerns in a formal release, citing the news article "Lack of safe access to platforms puts Radha Nagar residents at risk" published on Saturday, August 15. Considering the technical aspects of the subway, which is located 120 metres away from the railway station, the railway administration decided to establish a new accessway.

While footpaths are available on both sides across the already constructed and commissioned Radha Nagar subway, railway officials determined that the structure sits approximately 120 metres away from the platform end and offers no direct connection to the railway platforms.

Southern Railway pointed out that providing a pathway requiring passengers to walk for a considerable distance along the railway tracks between the suburban tracks and fast line tracks would pose a grave safety risk to passengers and would be operationally unviable.

These technical and safety concerns were also duly submitted to the Madras High Court. The High Court subsequently disposed of the matter, issuing directions that the representation regarding the pathway be considered in accordance with law.