Chennai Suburban Train Cancellations Cause Major Commuter Chaos for Fourth Day
Thousands of daily commuters in Chennai faced severe disruptions for the fourth consecutive day on Monday as Southern Railway cancelled 44 local services, creating long waits and dangerously packed platforms along the critical Beach, Tambaram, and Chengalpet corridor. The cancellations have transformed a typically reliable and frequent service into a daily ordeal of patience and safety concerns.
Extended Wait Times and Overcrowding Issues
Until recently, trains on this section arrived every 7 to 12 minutes, providing a predictable schedule for passengers. However, since the cancellations began, commuters report gaps widening to 25 to 30 minutes, with some platforms experiencing waits exceeding 40 minutes. On Monday, stations like Nungambakkam, Mambalam, and Guindy saw large crowds gathering well before scheduled arrivals, exacerbating the chaos.
Arun Selvan, a student at Loyola College, shared his frustration: "I missed my first-hour attendance on Friday, Saturday, and Monday. I board the train at Vandalur every day at 6:45 am, reach Nungambakkam by 7:45 am, and arrive at college in time for the first hour at 8:15 am. Since Friday, I was not able to board the train before 7:30 am, reaching college only around 9 am."
The situation reached a critical point when a Chengalpet-bound local arrived after a 40-minute gap, overflowing with passengers, including in the first-class coach. Students and office workers pressed into compartments, raising fears of falls and creating stampede-like conditions during boarding, according to eyewitness accounts.
Reasons Behind the Service Cuts and Safety Measures
The Chennai railway division has reduced the daily suburban schedule on the Beach–Chengalpet route from 204 trains to 164. This revised plan, effective from February 20 and set to continue until April 5, aims to facilitate redevelopment work at Egmore station. Trial runs conducted by Southern Railway on Saturday and Sunday revealed that trains had to cross five main lines to access platforms 5 and 6 at Egmore, causing significant delays.
Senthamil Selvan, Southern Railway's chief PRO, explained additional safety measures: "Trains also slowed near Chetpet and Park stations as part of a safety protocol. Railways is planning to operate more shuttle services between Guduvanchery and St Thomas Mount, allowing commuters to reach the city and shift to metro rail for onward travel."
Commuters Question Planning and Timing
Many commuters have criticized both the planning and timing of the cancellations. Dayanand Krishnan, a resident-activist, argued: "Railways had years to extend platforms and could have used available space on the Poonamallee High Road side. Why was an assessment and survey conducted? The work should have been scheduled for the summer, when schools and colleges break for vacation and ridership dips."
In response to the disruptions, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) is operating 60 additional buses to supplement regular services on routes serving Royapuram, Egmore, Nungambakkam, Tambaram, Guduvanchery, and Chengalpet, providing some relief to affected commuters.
