Open platform screen doors, poor signage among issues at Vadapalani Metro Phase II station

From delays in the opening of entry/exit, long walks via the skywalk, to poor signage, commuters have been facing a few issues at Vadapalani Metro Rail’s Phase II station.

Arduous task

Despite the stretch opening ten months past the deadline, work on the entry/exit of Phase II station, part of the newly opened 14.6 km Poonamallee to Vadapalani stretch of the Phase II network, has still not been completed. As a result, all commuters are forced to use the entry/exit of Vadapalani Phase I station located on 100 Feet Road, take a long walk through the skywalk which links the Phase I and Phase II stations, go up two floors to reach the platform and then board the connecting train.

Commuters said that the length of the skywalk could have been shorter, and the signage needs to be improved.

Selva, a resident of Porur, who was returning to the city with his family, took a train from Chennai Central Metro Rail station and arrived at Vadapalani Metro Rail Phase I station. “It is pretty tiring to walk through the skywalk and reach the Phase II station’s platform with the baggage. They could have planned a short transit here to connect both the stations. Those who have to pull the baggage, and walk will find it difficult,” he said.

Safety concern

The Chennai Metro Rail has introduced half-height platform screen doors at Phase II stations. These doors are meant to serve as protective barriers blocking access to the tracks. They should open only when the train arrives. However, they remain always open at Vadapalani Phase II station. Balaji, another frequent commuter, said that, to make things worse, the platform information display system (PIDS), which should indicate real-time train arrival, too isn’t functioning.

“As a result, passengers are clueless about when the train will arrive, and some of them get dangerously close to the platform edge and peep to see whether the train is arriving. The staff have to constantly ask them to move away from the edge of the platform. This doesn’t work well during peak hours. How can they keep the platform doors open compromising passenger safety,” he asked.

The signage, too, is far from satisfactory. For instance, when passengers enter from the Phase I station, there is signage directing passengers to the skywalk, but it doesn’t indicate that it leads to the Phase II station.

First-time passengers may not know that the skywalk takes them to the phase II station, commuters said.

Work on entry/exit

According to Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) officials, work on the entry/exit of the phase II station will be finished in a couple of months. “The signage too will be improved wherever necessary,” an official said.

A commuter asked how the platform doors could be kept open as commuters peep from the edge of the platforms to see whether the train is arriving, risking their safety