Track tales: Southern Railway to complete construction of halt railway station at Kilambakkam by October this year

The halt railway station being executed by the Southern Railway in Kilambakkam is expected to be completed by October this year. The project has been delayed and one of the main reasons was the the skywalk project linking the Kilambakkam bus terminus with the station. For the skywalk project, permission for placing the girder across the railway tracks was needed for the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) from the Southern Railway. 

Shailendra Singh, Divisional Railway Manager of Chennai division, during a press meet held last week, said the State government had deposited ₹20.82 crore for construction of the new halt station. The construction of platform no. 1 was completed, whereas civil work for platform numbers 2 and 3 was nearing completion. Construction of a temporary booking office and a toilet block was also completed, he added. 

Regarding the linking of the skywalk project which is under progress and being executed by the CMDA, Mr. Shailendra Singh said coordination with the State authorities for launch of skywalk girder and additional passenger amenities is being developed. A meeting in this regard was held and the same has been resolved for planning of launching the girder. 

For road underbridges or overbridges, the Southern railway would generally handle the execution at their portion. However, in the skywalk project, the CMDA was fully given charge for seamless execution. The skywalk project on the railway premises was delayed due to the demand made by the Southern railway for way leave charges of entering the property. 

S.N. Narain, Chief Public Relations Officer of Southern Railway, said that in the last meeting organised by officials of the Chennai division with CMDA and CUMTA, the Southern Railway had accepted in principle the request for waiving off the way leave charges. A memorandum of understanding has to be signed by the State Government as permission to fix the girder.

A senior official of CMDA said they received the communication for waiving off of way leave charges and soon a decision would be taken for signing the MoU.