Chennai: The delay in redevelopment of Tambaram, Chennai’s third railway terminal, continues to frustrate passengers. Platforms at the eastern end, used by long-distance trains to Madurai and southern districts, lack roofing. So, travellers have to stand under the blazing sun or get drenched in the rain while they wait for their trains.
Despite serving 7.5 crore passengers annually and earning 246.7 crore in revenue during 2023-24, Tambaram station lacks basic amenities such as LED display boards, lifts, escalators, ramps, air-conditioned waiting halls and upgraded restrooms at platforms 5–10. Small LCD screens on the foot overbridge, which frequently malfunction, are the only source of information for passengers.
The redevelopment project was stagnant for more than 4 years and 4 months. While 43.46 lakh was allocated in Aug 2020 for the preparation of a master plan and a detailed project report (DPR), only 8.38 lakh (19.3%) was spent, an RTI response revealed. A contract awarded to Creative Group stipulated the completion of the DPR within six months, but progress was minimal.
The master plan, approved under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in July 2021, saw further delays as the Railway Board prioritised other station projects between 2021 and 2023. Reintroduced under the Amrit Bharat Scheme in Jan 2023, the project appeared to gain momentum when Creative Group showcased a 1,000 crore 3D model in June.
Railway officials said in July 2024 that the DPR was complete and would be submitted within 10 days, with construction approvals expected by Oct and work beginning in June 2025. However, an RTI in Dec revealed no progress beyond the 8.38 lakh bill submitted in June 2021.
Despite its non-suburban group-1 status, the station’s redevelopment was mired in bureaucratic delays, leaving passengers without essential services. The failure to prioritise this vital project drew criticism, with RTI activist Dayanand Krishnan saying, “Expectations are now pinned on announcements in the upcoming 2024-25 railway budget to revive the long-stalled project.
