Pattabiram station faces pollution and safety issues amid official inaction

Chennai: From sewage overflow and garbage dumping in the premises to a bumpy approach road, Pattabiram railway station, a busy suburban stop located about 25km from Chennai Central, grapples with severe sanitation and safety concerns.At least 10,000 commuters, including office-goers and students, use the station every day. However, one of the major concerns is the flow of sewage from stormwater drains into railway land near Platform 3. "Because of this, wastewater stagnates at the station entrance, causing a foul smell. It has turned into a breeding ground for mosquitoes, raising potential health risks for commuters," said T Sadagopan, president, Tamil Nadu Progressive Consumer Welfare Association.Garbage pile up on the premises has further worsened the situation. Irregular waste collection in areas around the station has led to dumping of plastic and vegetable waste near the railway booking office. The office building near the cabin, though constructed, has not yet been commissioned, and the surrounding space has turned into an unofficial dumping yard.Overgrown bushes and unpruned trees along approach roads have turned the spot into a den for anti-socials, said A Roy Rosario, president, Rail Passengers Association.Pattabiram station generates a revenue of 4 crore a year. "And yet, there is no station master here. Maintenance is done by the clerk-in-charge, who is not available round the clock. This has led to frequent disruption of the public announcement system," Rosario added.The situation has worsened after nearly 20 pairs of EMU train services were terminated at Avadi and several Tiruvallur services were cancelled during the pandemic, Sadagopan added."There were 54 EMU services operating at the station earlier. Now, only long-distance trains from Tiruttani and Arakkonam stop at Pattabiram, and these trains are often delayed, forcing commuters to wait for 35-40 minutes.""We have requested the railways to restore the cancelled services and extend short-distance EMUs beyond Avadi, but no action has been taken," he added.Association members say multiple complaints were sent to the department since July 2022. DRM Shailendra Singh was unavailable for comment.