Pedestrian subway construction delays trains

By Express News Service  |   Published: 14th August 2017 01:20 AM  |  

CHENNAI: Construction work on a pedestrian subway between East and West Tambaram delayed trains passing through the area by a few hours on Saturday night.
The construction work slowed down due to a sudden downpour, which halted power supply for the tunneling work.

Pedestrians cross railway
tracks near the site of the
subway, under construction
in Tambaram

The ambitious project, which employs more than 600 workers, involves tunneling under four railway tracks to connect a bus stop in West Tambaram to the bus stop on the other side near Fathima Church. Labourers at the project site claimed they had managed to tunnel under two of the four tracks during Saturday night.

On completion, the subway will allow pedestrians to cross from West to East Tambaram without using the railway overbridge, which is the only safe alternative.

“Lots of people cross the railway  tracks to reach the other side and put themselves in unnecessary danger,” said a railway official wishing to remain anonymous. “Since the tracks have been re-laid in the morning, trains are running on schedule,” he said while inspecting the tracks.

The stretch of railway track which sees many daily commuters crossing over to Irumbuliyur town on the other side, is covered with shrubbery. Scampering pedestrians avoiding fast trains is also a common sight here.

“Once the subway is completed, we won’t have to cross the tracks,” said Shanthi, who was crossing the tracks with her family.  Work on the subway is expected to resume on Monday evening.