Chennai: Central metro yet to fully integrate with MGR Central railway station

CHENNAI: It’s been two years since Central metro rail station was opened, but there is no seamless connectivity or a walking path for commuters to access MGR Central railway station.
Alternative arrangements to integrate Central metro to MGR Central are yet to take shape after Southern Railway didn’t allow metro to build a subway connecting the metro station with the railway station.
All entry/exits of the station, which connect two metro lines, have been opened and the area given to Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has been paved with interlocked tiles.But commuters who take the metro train to reach MGR Central struggle to reach the main railway station to board express trains since there is no dedicated pathway from metro entry or exit points to the railway station.
The uneven tiles are a hassle for the passengers because they find it difficult to roll their trolley bags. Besides, cars, cabs and two-wheelers that drive by the front of the railway station towards the parking area and the Moore Market Complex suburban station come in the way of people who walking from MGR Central to the metro station and vice versa.
“I find it difficult to reach the station with the heavy bags. Most of the people come up through escalators and lifts but have to walk a long way. The long walk is not an issue if there is a smooth pathway that is easier to move luggage,” said Arun Kumar, a passenger headed to Central.
The MGR Central station campus is chaotic in the evening when there are several departures of express trains. Since metro lines connect key areas of the city like Parry’s, Anna Nagar, Egmore, Koyambedu, CMBT, airport and others people proceeding to board trains at Central prefer to use the metro to beat the evening rush hour traffic. Central metro is the second busiest station with around 9,000 commuters using it daily.
In contrast, CMRL and Airports Authority of India have installed good connectivity between airport metro station and the airport using a tube and a walkalator. T K Pandian, a regular commuter, said, “They have built a good facility for commuters to access the airport. Similar planning doesn’t seem to have been done for connecting MGR Central and Central metro.”
A canopy has been installed near the Moore Market complex entrance of the railway station for commuters to reach the suburban and the railway stations.
A railway official said there will be more amenities for passengers when CMRL completes its Central Square project. A new pathway between Central metro and Moore Market Complex will also be set up as part of the Central Square project which is underway.