Southern Railway has introduced temporary wheelchair access, signage and a dedicated helpline at Chennai Egmore and Tambaram stations after redevelopment-related changes disrupted routes used by disabled and elderly passengers.
At Egmore, wheelchair access from the Poonamallee High Road side has been suspended temporarily, except for Platform 11A. Passengers requiring assistance can enter through the Gandhi Irwin Road side, which provides access to all platforms. Officials said 18 wheelchairs have been placed at different locations and banners have been installed to direct passengers to the accessible entrance.
A dedicated assistance number, 9003061958, is available for Divyangjan passengers. Railway staff will escort wheelchair users to trains and assist them while boarding, officials said. Porter services and the prescribed charges have also been displayed for elderly passengers who need mobility support.
The temporary arrangements followed difficulties experienced by passengers during the ongoing construction work. A passenger with a disability, S Vishnuvardhan, 34, was forced to climb stairs with the help of a friend to catch a train at Egmore after he could not find a wheelchair. The station master’s office was also locked at the time, according to the report.
The longer-term improvement at Egmore is expected from an 18-metre-wide foot overbridge connecting the Gandhi Irwin Road and Poonamallee Road sides. The bridge is being built as a priority and will have six escalators and five lifts connecting all platforms. Southern Railway officials expect the facility to be completed by the end of this year.
At Tambaram station, 13 wheelchairs have been placed at different locations, with a similar assistance facility being provided for Divyangjan passengers. Officials have also examined the feasibility of temporarily operating battery-operated vehicles from Platform 1A.
An 8-metre-wide foot overbridge with lifts and escalators connecting all platforms is under construction at Tambaram and is also expected to be completed by the end of the year. Until then, passengers dependent on step-free access will rely on the available wheelchairs, staff assistance and route information.
Across the Chennai Division, wheelchair assistance is available at 118 stations. Major 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, while battery-operated vehicles are available at Chennai Central, Egmore, Tambaram and Chengalpattu.
The next stated milestone is the completion of the new foot overbridges at Egmore and Tambaram by the end of the year, after which access between station entrances and platforms is expected to improve.
