More than 20,000 daily commuters at the Chennai Park suburban railway station face squalid conditions—uncleared trash, overflowing toilets, and poor upkeep—despite the station being a key node on the Chennai Central–Egmore–Tambaram–Beach corridor and located just steps from the Greater Chennai Corporation headquarters.
Commuters say repeated complaints to officials have yielded no results. “The stench during peak hours is intolerable,” said D Aravind, a regular passenger. “Hawkers dump garbage near the Poonamallee High Road entrance, and the rain worsens the foul smell.” He also noted that non-functional escalators leave senior citizens struggling on stairs.
A spot check revealed just three dustbins outside and a leaking, unhygienic toilet. Vendors admitted that food waste is dumped on tracks or open grounds, while GCC clears trash only once a week, leaving mounds of filth by the station walls.
Southern Railway claims redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is progressing, with over 50% of works completed. Upgrades include a new booking office with a lounge, platform shelters, lifts, improved signage, CCTVs, and modern waiting halls. A pedestrian link to the MRTS and Poonamallee High Road is also under construction.
Yet, for regular users, the reality is far from this vision. Until basic sanitation is addressed, Chennai Park remains a daily ordeal in grime.