Southern Railway has introduced temporary wheelchair access, signage, helplines and assisted boarding at Chennai Egmore and Tambaram railway stations after redevelopment work disrupted established routes for elderly and disabled passengers.
At Egmore, wheelchair access from the Poonamallee High Road side has been temporarily suspended, except for Platform 11A. Passengers requiring assistance can enter through the Gandhi Irwin Road side, which provides access to all platforms. Southern Railway officials said 18 wheelchairs have been positioned at different locations and banners have been installed to direct passengers to the accessible route.
A dedicated assistance number, 9003061958, has also been provided for Divyangjan passengers. Railway staff will escort wheelchair users to their trains and help them board. Porter services and the prescribed charges have been displayed for elderly passengers who need mobility support.
The temporary arrangements follow access difficulties reported during the redevelopment-related changes at Egmore. A passenger with a disability was forced to climb stairs with assistance after being unable to find a wheelchair, while the station master’s office was locked when help was sought. The episode highlighted how construction and shifting access routes can create immediate barriers even at major transport hubs.
The longer-term solution at Egmore is an 18-metre-wide foot overbridge connecting the Gandhi Irwin Road and Poonamallee Road sides. The structure is planned with six escalators and five lifts, linking all platforms. Railway officials said it has been taken up as a priority and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
At Tambaram, 13 wheelchairs have been placed at different locations, with a similar assistance facility being provided for Divyangjan passengers. Officials have also examined whether battery-operated vehicles can be operated temporarily from Platform 1A. An eight-metre-wide foot overbridge with lifts and escalators connecting all platforms is under construction and is also expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The arrangements form part of wider accessibility support across Chennai Division. Wheelchair assistance is available at 118 stations, while important stations including Chennai Central, Chennai Beach, Mambalam, St Thomas Mount, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, Arakkonam, Tiruttani, Katpadi and Jolarpettai have multiple wheelchairs. The division has 154 lifts and 65 escalators at important stations. Battery-operated vehicles are available at Chennai Central, Egmore, Tambaram and Chengalpattu.
Until the new foot overbridges are completed, passengers at Egmore and Tambaram will depend on the temporary entry routes, distributed wheelchairs, helpline support and staff assistance announced by Southern Railway. The planned lifts, escalators and platform connections are the next major milestones for restoring more seamless access at both stations.
