Chennai: Southern Railway has begun taking measures to prevent accidents like the one that happened at St Thomas Mount Railway Station recently.
Soon after it stopped plying fast locals on the fastlines, it has now undertaken a drive to demolish concrete fence and walls at railway stations that fall in Chennai Beach – Chengalpet route.
On Monday afternoon, workers were seen demolishing a four feet concrete fence at Pazhavanthangal Station. The 25-metre fence divided the fourth line from the approach road of the station.
A Railway official on duty at the station told News Today that the measure is being taken based on recommendations made by railway personnel after conducting slew of inspections at the local stations.
Inspections were taken up post St Thomas Mount Railway Station mishap. During the review, unsafe things like poles, concrete fence have been identified which could pose risk to those travelling on footboard, the official said.
Before the removal of the concrete fence at Pazhavanthangal Station, the same thing was done at Meenambakkam and Saidapet stations on Sunday.
“At the moment, we are waiting for the recommendation of the Safety Commissioner to finalise the decision to alter the fence at St Thomas Mount Station. The decision on running fast locals on fastlines will also will be taken based on the report,” said the railway official.
Plans are on to remove concrete fence and walls at six other stations including Chromepet and Chennai Fort and shift some electrical poles.
“We cannot afford to forget what happened at St Thomas Mount Station,’ said K Vinod, a commuter at Pazhavanthangal Station.
It is good that the authorities have stepped in now by demolishing the walls, he added.
Commuters also reminded the need to enhance frequency of local trains. Local trains coming from beyond Tambaram often witnesses crowd and the only way to reduce it is to operate more EMUs, said M Senthil Kumar, a commuter at Chetpet railway station.