Starting this September, commuters at Guindy railway station will experience a transformed facility, featuring new amenities from a revamped two-wheeler parking lot to newly installed lifts on the existing foot overbridge.
Southern Railway, undertaking this renovation under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) at a cost of Rs. 135 million, initiated the project in December last year. This extensive revamp will see both the eastern and western sides of the station updated with a new booking office, platform resurfacing, replacement of old roofing sheets, installation of a passenger information display system, an upgraded public announcement system, and CCTV cameras for enhanced security. Additionally, a new pedestrian plaza will be established outside the station.
The station, located on the busy Chennai Beach-Chengalpet section, sees over 60,000 commuters daily. A major part of the project includes redeveloping the old parking zone along GST Road, installing lifts on four platforms and the Race Course side, with electrical works nearing completion. New circulating areas and pedestrian pathways are also being constructed.
Regular users of Guindy station have expressed their excitement about the upgrades. Rajesh, a daily commuter, highlighted the benefits of the new escalators on the Race Course side, noting, ?The new escalators will be very beneficial as many people board trains from the bus stop on that side. It would be even better if a traffic signal or a small pedestrian bridge were installed to allow those getting down at the Guindy bus stop to reach these escalators easily. Currently, commuters have to cross Race Course Road amidst speeding vehicles, making it very challenging during peak hours.?
Telecom installations on platforms for passenger information systems are also underway, with a Senior Southern Railway official confirming that 50% of the physical work has been completed. This project is part of a larger initiative by Southern Railway to redevelop 34 stations across the state, including six suburban stations in Chennai, and to construct 193 foot overbridges at various stations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation for this extensive project via video conferencing a few months before work commenced.
