Chennai: For over 800 passengers who detrain at the suburban stations in the outskirts of the city, basic amenities are denied as six toilets are been closed indefinitely for the past 12 days.
The pay-and-use toilets have been closed at Avadi, Ambattur, Pattaravakkam, Kurattur, Villivakkam and Perambur since October 1. Passengers who arrive at the toilet after getting down at all these stations are welcomed by board on which it is written ‘Closed until further orders’.
“I have to reach Tambaram and before we take the connecting bus further, my kids were using the toilets. Now we can't and when I spoke to station authorities about it, they don’t have a specific reply and suggest we use the toilet at the bus terminal nearby,” said L.Krishnan, who arrived by the Aleppey Express at Avadi station.
Station officials said that these toilets are closed as the contractor did not maintain the lavatory facilities as per prescribed standards for the past few months. However, contractor M.Jayaraman said that the railways have terminated the contract, which was due to end in March 2016, without any prior intimation.
Even short distance passengers have been complaining, more so because they are being fined Rs 200 for urinating near the railway spaces. Railway officials say that they will find an alternative very soon, but I really don't know as how long as the wait will continue, he added.
A commercial manager in southern railways when contacted said that they would be holding talks with the senior divisional commercial manager soon to come up with an alternative.
