CHENNAI: Located between the railway stations at Thirumullaivoyal and Avadi, the “not-so-popular” Annanur suburban railway station witnesses’ deaths due to trespass on railway tracks more than any other station in the city. According to Government Railway Police (GRP) records, six deaths were recorded this year and, sources say, of the 27 deaths recorded in the Avadi section till May 2017, most of them occurred near Annanur railway tracks.
With an average of 20,000 commuters every day, the station is devoid of a foot-over-bridge (FOB) – the prime reason locals cite for increasing the death toll.
The foot overbridge was partially constructed by the Central railway around 10 years ago and the Southern Railway, which had to finish the project by connecting it to the road, has abandoned it due to lack of funds. Till date, the officials have been citing the same reason, locals rue and moreover, some also cite low patronage for “delay” in the construction of the FOB.
The suburban station has four tracks and two platforms—a side platform and an island platform, and the latter houses the ticket counter.
“The only way a passenger can purchase a ticket is by jaywalking on the tracks. Because of increasing buildings around the station, the train is not visible till it is about 100 metres away from the station. Moreover, as Avadi-Annanur is a power saving area, the lights in the train are switched off between the stretch, adding to our woes of poor illumination in the station,” rued G. Kavitha, a resident of the area. Not only this, Annanur station falls prey to anti-social at night due to poor illumination. Women complain that the police personnel are seldom seen in the station raising concerns for safety.
The station is a prime facility for numerous college students and industrial workers employed in the vicinity, including Avadi, Ambattur, Villivakkam, Perambur and Chennai Central. Every day, on an average, around 260 trips are being made by suburban trains on the western rail route between Chennai Central and Arakkonam, which is the last suburban railway station on the western part of the city.
Deaths in Avadi section up to May 2017
Total cases: 36
Total Causalties: 33(M), 3 (F)
Identified: 24
Unidentified: 12
Accidental Death: 27
Suicidal death: 0
Natural causes: 6
Fallen down: 3
