Southern Railway Proposes Fix for Adambakkam MRTS Platform Gap

The Southern Railway has submitted a proposal to the Commission of Railway Safety (CRS) to address the issue of a wide gap between train coaches and the platform at Adambakkam MRTS station. This defect has kept the station closed to passengers, even though the Velachery-St Thomas Mount extension was commissioned nearly three months ago. The proposal suggests using steel channels and cement chequered tiles to bridge the gap, which occurs at a curved section of the track. Approval from the CRS is awaited before any rectification work can begin.

The gap issue was highlighted during an inspection by the chief commissioner of railway safety (CCRS), who noted the excessive gap at Adambakkam station. In May, railway officials mentioned that various rectification options were being considered, including modifications to the platform and track. However, they have not provided a timeline for when the station might open to passengers.

Currently, MRTS services have been extended to St Thomas Mount, with trains stopping at nearby Puzhuthivakkam station, while Adambakkam remains non-operational. The Velachery-St Thomas Mount extension, first proposed in 2008, faced significant delays due to land acquisition and construction issues, taking nearly 18 years to complete. The continued closure of Adambakkam station has frustrated residents who have been waiting for access to MRTS services, despite the station being largely complete.