PM Modi opens 13 railway stations revamped for 130cr
Chennai: The St Thomas Mount railway station in Chennai was redeveloped at a cost of 11 crore under Union govt's Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. It is among 13 stations in the Southern Railway zone that were modernized under the scheme at 130 crore.
Virtually inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the upgraded facility now features improved concourse flow, upgraded passenger amenities, better multimodal connectivity, and revamped platform infrastructure. Union minister of state for information and broadcasting L Murugan and state MSME minister T M Anbarasan were present at the event.
However, on day one, crowding at the newly introduced AC ticket counter near the Ravi Soda factory gate highlighted a mismatch between design and usage.
Commuters were forced to queue in the open under the sun, raising questions about space planning. "It would have been better if the counter was a bit bigger," said Vignesh P, who was waiting in line.
Other redeveloped stations include Srirangam, Tiruvannamalai, Mannargudi, Polur, Chidambaram, and Vriddhachalam. Southern Railway officials said each station was reworked to include upgraded seating, LED lighting, drinking water kiosks, disabled-friendly toilets, revamped foot overbridges and subways, and enhanced facades and landscaping.
Energy-efficient lighting, CCTV surveillance, and solar panels were also installed.
While officials claim that road access, parking bays, pedestrian walkways, and modern signage systems have been improved, early feedback at St Thomas Mount and elsewhere suggests key commuter needs such as shade, last-mile access, and efficient passenger flow remain under-addressed.
Redevelopment work is still underway at Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, and Ariyalur. At several launch events, Southern Railway invited war veterans to join elected representatives and officials on stage, calling it a tribute to service.
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