Southern Railway and CUMTA Propose Safe Accessway Linking Radha Nagar Subway to Chromepet Station
Southern Railway, in coordination with the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA), has formulated plans to build an alternate, safe pathway linking the Radha Nagar subway to Chromepet Railway Station. The proposed pathway aims to provide secure, convenient entry and exit points for commuters accessing station platforms from the Radha Nagar neighbourhood.
What Happened
In an official release, the Chennai Division of Southern Railway acknowledged commuter safety concerns regarding access to platform facilities from Radha Nagar. The announcement followed a published report highlighting that local residents faced risks when attempting to reach the platforms.
Railway authorities reviewed the technical constraints surrounding the Radha Nagar subway, which is already constructed and commissioned. Although footpaths exist on both sides of the subway, the structure is situated approximately 120 metres away from the end of the railway platform and lacks a direct route to the platforms.
According to railway officials, establishing a pathway directly along the existing alignment would force passengers to walk a significant distance along railway tracks, sandwiched between suburban tracks and fast line tracks. Southern Railway stated that such a design presents grave safety hazards to pedestrians and remains operationally unviable. Consequently, Southern Railway and CUMTA decided to develop an alternate accessway.
Key Highlights
- Southern Railway and CUMTA are collaborating to design a safe, dedicated pathway connecting the Radha Nagar subway area directly to Chromepet Railway Station.
- The existing Radha Nagar subway sits roughly 120 metres away from the station platform end, without any existing direct linkage.
- Railway authorities noted that walking alongside the rail line between active suburban and fast tracks is operationally unviable and dangerous.
- The Madras High Court disposed of a related matter after technical and safety details were presented, directing that representations be addressed according to law.
Why This Matters
The decision directly addresses pedestrian and passenger safety. Under the previous arrangement, accessing platforms from Radha Nagar posed major hazards because approaching the platforms without a dedicated accessway placed passengers in close proximity to active rail lines. Creating an alternate accessway ensures that commuters can enter and exit the station premises without stepping onto operational track areas.
What to Watch Next
Following the Madras High Court’s directive that representations must be evaluated in accordance with the law, officials will move forward on implementing the alternate accessway in coordination with CUMTA. Details regarding construction timelines and the exact structural alignment of the proposed pathway will depend on further administrative and engineering processes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why cannot passengers walk from the existing subway directly to the platforms?
The Radha Nagar subway ends around 120 metres away from the platform. A direct route along that section would compel commuters to walk along tracks positioned between suburban and fast railway lines, which Southern Railway identified as a severe safety risk and operationally unviable.
Who is working on the new accessway proposal?
The alternate pathway is being planned jointly by Southern Railway and CUMTA.
What did the Madras High Court decide regarding the issue?
After being appraised of the safety hazards and technical challenges by railway officials, the Madras High Court disposed of the matter and directed that the representation be handled in accordance with the law.
Source: Based on an official release from the Chennai Division of Southern Railway as reported by The Hindu.