Passengers using the free toilets between platforms 12 and 16 at Chennai’s suburban terminal near Dr MGR Chennai Central Railway Station are facing inadequate water supply, broken doors and foul odour, according to a report by DT Next. The facilities are located at the Moore Market Complex, a major rail hub serving commuters travelling to destinations including Gummidipoondi, Arakkonam and Tiruvallur.
The toilets are used by a large number of passengers each day, but several facilities are reportedly not being maintained properly. Damaged doors and locks have made some toilets unusable, while the remaining facilities lack adequate water for handwashing and flushing.
The condition is placing an additional burden on passengers who depend on free public facilities at the station. Women, senior citizens and persons with disabilities have been forced to use paid toilets near the entrance when the free toilets are inaccessible or unusable, the report said.
Passenger Kannan told DT Next that water was barely available for handwashing and was insufficient for flushing. He also said basic items such as buckets for collecting water were not available. Another passenger, Manibalan, said commuters sometimes waited 10 to 15 minutes to use the toilets during peak hours.
Manibalan added that the paid toilets charge Rs 5 and are properly maintained, while the free toilets are not cleaned or maintained adequately. He said the foul smell was so strong that passengers found it difficult even to enter the facilities.
The problem highlights the operational importance of basic amenities at a busy suburban rail interchange. Toilets are part of the passenger infrastructure that supports daily mobility, particularly for people making longer journeys and those who may not be able to use alternative facilities easily.
A Southern Railway official told DT Next that the department would examine the complaints. The official said damage to railway property had been a recurring issue and that the railway planned to create awareness among the public. Vigilance would also be intensified to curb such damage, the official said.
The railway’s stated next steps are to look into the water supply, maintenance and damaged fixtures at the toilets, while increasing public awareness and vigilance at the station.
