Residents of Mettupalayam have urged the Salem division of Southern Railway to build a foot overbridge or pedestrian subway near the newly renovated Mettupalayam railway station, warning that the ongoing expansion could cut off existing pedestrian routes used by hundreds of commuters every day.
The Save Bhavani association submitted a petition to the divisional railway manager, stating that nearly 60% of Mettupalayam’s population lives on the eastern side of the railway tracks. Several residential communities are located within a 2km radius of the station, making direct pedestrian access important for residents travelling to the ticket counter and platforms.
The association said the station expansion work could lead to the permanent closure of pathways currently used by commuters. If that happens, residents may have to travel nearly 2km to reach the station through the Kattoor railway gate, according to P Sukumar, a member of the association.
The Kattoor railway gate lies on the Nilgiri Mountain Railway route and already experiences heavy traffic, particularly during holidays and auspicious days. The association said traffic increases because of the movement of devotees visiting the Bhadrakali Amman temple and Nandhavanam, where rituals for the dead are performed.
Sukumar said diverting pedestrians and additional local movement towards the railway gate could worsen congestion during peak hours. The route is also used by industrial establishments, including ITC, Sharada Terry Products and United Bleachers Ltd, for passenger and goods movement.
Residents identified the existing railway underbridge near Santhi Nagar as another possible route. However, the association said commuters using the underbridge would have to cover an additional distance of around 2.5km to reach the station platforms, making it a less convenient alternative for daily users.
The petition called for a temporary pedestrian access facility to be provided while a permanent solution is planned. The association also sought the revival of the proposed road overbridge at Santhi Nagar or the widening of the Kattoor railway crossing.
The demand comes as expansion work continues at the station and more train services are expected to originate from Mettupalayam. Residents said the access arrangements should be addressed as part of the expansion process rather than after existing pathways are closed.
The petition has placed the focus on how station redevelopment can affect surrounding neighbourhoods when pedestrian connectivity is not incorporated into construction plans. The Salem division of Southern Railway has been urged to examine the proposed foot overbridge, subway and road connectivity options before access routes used by eastern-side residents are permanently altered.
