Passengers are lamenting that Chennai’s dream project, the flyover rail project, has been pushed into a pitiable state.
The flyover rail project has been implemented over a total distance of 24.34 km at a cost of about Rs. 1,342 crore, from Chennai Beach Station to Thirumayilai, then to Velachery, and in the third phase to Parangimalai.
While the Tamil Nadu government provided the land for the project, the railway department supplied the tracks, trains, and stations, and the service is being operated. Starting from the Beach Road ground station and covering 18 stations up to Parangimalai, more than 80 trains are currently being operated.
Increase in passengers: With low fares, quick travel, and the thrill of seeing Chennai from a bird’s-eye view at a height of about 18 feet above the ground, this dream project has become a reality, and passengers are choosing to travel on it with enthusiasm. Initially, it was said that 35,000 people traveled every day. Now it has risen to 70,000, a lakh, and the number of passengers is now beginning to decline.
Lack of basic facilities: In the flying train project, except for one or two stations such as Mylapore, most stations including Thiruvanmiyur do not have drinking water, toilet facilities, or operational escalators and lifts to help the elderly and persons with disabilities.
At stations such as Beach Road and Park Town, passengers continue to come and go every day while breathing in the foul stench from the nearby Cooum, which is an unfortunate situation. Passengers have long been demanding that the railway department take the initiative to rectify this by erecting a large compound wall or taking other measures.
In the suburban rail project, most stations have a lot of unused space, and it is seen as the height of unsanitary conditions, with garbage piling up and liquor bottles strewn about. It is said that due to the lack of adequate lighting, even those working there are left in fear.
Velachery-Parangimalai extension: Last year (2025), suburban electric train services were greatly reduced due to the redevelopment work at Egmore railway station. As a result, those who commuted from the Tambaram route into Chennai city for work and other duties faced severe hardship. Following this, the Mass Rapid Transit System train service, which had been operated up to Velachery, was urgently extended to Parangimalai after 17 years, with the 5 km stretch completed at a cost of about Rs. 734 crore.
Adambakkam station closure: The extension service line includes the Puzhuthivakkam and Adambakkam stations. At present, trains stop at Puzhuthivakkam, but at Adambakkam the gap between the left-side platform and the train is too large (20 cm more), so the Railway Safety Commission has not permitted trains to stop there. As a result, Adambakkam railway station remains closed for now.
Thousands of people from the Adambakkam area are said to have been forced into the distressing situation of having to walk daily to Puzhuthivakkam or Parangimalai, or travel in hired vehicles.
Regarding this, journalist Brian said that if there is any defect at the Adambakkam station, which was set up for the convenience of the public, the concerned railway department itself should rectify it. Instead, keeping the railway station closed for months and causing hardship to the public is not justified in any way, he said.
Handover to Metro: Meanwhile, the Central Railway Board has accepted, through the state government, the approval for handing over the suburban rail project to the Metro administration. A two-year period has been granted for this. However, due to the lack of maintenance at the railway station, the number of passengers is decreasing, and security has also been reduced at all but one or two stations.
People expect the Railway Department to step in and properly maintain the stations until the Metro Rail Corporation fully takes over the elevated rail project.
Officials said: When Southern Railway senior officials were asked about this, an inspection of the platform at the Adambakkam station was carried out by the Integral Coach Factory, and a report has been obtained.
The defects in the track platform will be rectified within a month or two, and trains will stop there. Since the Metro Rail Corporation is taking over the operation of the elevated rail, station operations will be modified and upgraded to suit them, they said.
The passengers’ expectation is that the flying train project, which plays a major role in Chennai’s transportation, should be rescued from its pathetic state and a solution found to the traffic congestion.
Low number of passengers on the flying train
Years Passengers Park Town to Velachery
2022-2023 3,80,288 2,23,202 1,57,086
2023-2024 3,74, 463 2,14,425 1,60,037
2024-2025 3,24,748 1,93,543 1,31, 205
2025-2026 3,57,519 2,23,428 1,34, 091
Initially, the number of passengers on the flying train was high, but due to poor maintenance, inadequate facilities, and lack of cleanliness, it gradually declined.
In this situation, after the flying train was extended from Velachery to Parangimalai last year, it has been found that the number of passengers has risen slightly.
