Railway commuters using Vandalur railway station have urged the authorities to resume bus services to Kilambakkam, citing the absence of reliable last-mile connectivity and the prevalence of overcharging by autorickshaw drivers.

Hundreds of EMU and MEMU train passengers, including office-goers, tourists and weekend visitors to the Arignar Anna Zoological Park, depend on the station for its relatively faster access along the congested GST Road corridor. However, commuters say the lack of affordable onward transport has become a major concern.

Reliance on autos

“Passengers are forced to pay steep fares even for short distances,” said Selvam, a regular commuter. Autorickshaw drivers allegedly charge ₹100 to the zoo, located about one kilometre away, and up to ₹250 for a trip to Kilambakkam, around three kilometres from the station.

Activists pointed out that Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) had operated bus services between the railway station and Kilambakkam until a few years ago. “The services were discontinued without any clear explanation, leaving commuters at the mercy of autorickshaw drivers,” an activist said.

Commuters’ plight

Beena, another commuter, said the issue has worsened as there is no bus stop at the Vandalur Railway station junction on both sides. Passengers cannot rely on train connectivity to Kilambakkam at present since the halt station might take a few more months to be completed. “With the next station being Urapakkam, commuters have no option but to spend on autorickshaws,” she said, alleging that a group of drivers often dictates fares.

College students travelling along the Vandalur–Kelambakkam Road are particularly affected. “They are often forced to share autos at high rates during peak hours,” she added.

Safety concerns

Activists also flagged safety issues near the station, noting that many pedestrians avoid using the road overbridge and instead cross tracks at grade, risking their lives. “Proper signage and security measures are needed to encourage use of the bridge. At present, poor usage has led to concerns over anti-social activities,” a commuter said.

Meanwhile, Southern Railway has opened a parking lot exclusively for cars near the station. It may be noted during December last year, a spacious two-wheeler parking stand was opened benefitting hundreds of commuters. While commuters have welcomed these initiatives, they stressed the need for better coordination between the Railways and the MTC to restore bus connectivity to Kilambakkam.