Residents lament delay in construction of subway at Ambattur railway station

Residents are eagerly waiting for the completion of a subway at the Ambattur railway station, where work began in 2023. The construction has been delayed by several months, and this has caused inconvenience to residents of nearby areas.

The limited-use subway, meant to replace the level crossing 6, will extend from MTS Road to Kallikuppam Road. Residents had been demanding a subway at the level crossing for several years to avoid long waits.

However, the project was sanctioned only a few years ago.

The Ambattur railway station is an important station on the western corridor, with the Ambattur Old Town bus terminus to its north and the Industrial Estate to the south. Additionally, several prominent residential areas are located nearby, such as Varadarajapuram towards the south and Venkatapuram and the famous Ambattur market to its north.

Costing ₹10 crore, the project was initiated by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), with Southern Railway executing the portion of the subway below the tracks in 2023.

However, the residents have complained that the project has been dragging on for several years.

T. Gunaseelan of Varadarajapuram said the delay had forced the residents on either side of the station to take a detour through CTH Road to reach their destination.

The residents also complained that the GCC could have planned a bigger subway capable of accommodating four-wheelers.

Encroachments

M. Anandan, a resident of Venkatapuram, said the Bazaar Street on both sides of the station had been completely encroached by markets and commercial establishments. The civic body had constructed a limited-use underpass, instead of removing encroachments, he rued.

While Southern Railway has completed the underpass, the GCC is working on the rest of the project. According to a GCC official, the work on the subway, which will be three metres in width, has been temporarily halted owing to rain, and is likely to be completed by April.

“The utility removal work is in progress. The main construction will begin thereafter. Earth excavation on a section near the railway station has been carried out,” said an official of the Bridges Department of the GCC.

(With inputs from R. Aishwarya)