Ambattur railway station

Ambattur railway station is one of the main railway station of the Chennai Central–Arakkonam section of the Chennai Suburban Railway Network. It serves the neighbourhood of Ambattur, a suburb of Chennai located 17 km west of the city centre. It is situated at Varadarajapuram in Ambattur, with an elevation of 19.18 metres above sea level.

Ambattur
Station of Chennai Suburban Railway and Southern Railways
Main entrance of the Ambattur railway station
LocationVaradarajapuram, Ambattur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Coordinates13.114342°N 80.152524°E / 13.114342; 80.152524
Owned byMinistry of Railways, Indian Railways
Line(s)West, West North and West South lines of Chennai Suburban Railway
Platforms3
Tracks8
Construction
Structure typeStandard on-ground station
ParkingAvailable
Other information
Station codeABU
Fare zoneSouthern Railways
History
Electrified29 November 1979[1]
Previous namesSouth Indian Railway
Passengers
201350,000/day[2]
Location
Ambattur
Location within India
Ambattur
Ambattur (Tamil Nadu)

History
Platform 1 with the name board at the station (a view towards west)

The first lines in the station were electrified on 29 November 1979, with the electrification of the Chennai Central–Tiruvallur section. Additional lines at the station were electrified on 2 October 1986, with the electrification of the Villivakkam–Tiruninravur section.[1]

On 21 January 1946 at 4.15 p.m., Mahatma Gandhi visited the station, who was received by Kamaraj.

Layout
Main lines visible at the right (a view towards west)
Suburban lines at the station (a view towards west)

The station has Eight tracks, including four loop lines, and has three platforms.[3] The first platform is a side platform and houses the station's entrance and the ticket counter. The second and third platforms lie on an island platform. The platforms are connected by means of a footbridge. A second footbridge built at the level crossing connects the northern and southern sides of the neighbourhood. In 2001, Southern Railways renovated the footbridge at the level crossing at a cost of ₹ 400,000.[4]

A railway concrete sleeper manufacturing company was located at the northwestern side of the station until 2015, which is served by loop lines radiating from the station.

As of 2013, the station handles about 50,000 passengers a day.[2] This includes commuters from areas around Ambattur such as Padi, Mannurpet, Karukku, Kallikuppam, Menambedu and Pattaravakkam.[5] Everyday, suburban trains make around 260 trips through the station.[5]

Development

According to a railway release in 2008, there are plans to develop the station as a coaching terminal (satellite terminal) for Chennai Central railway station, on the lines of Tambaram station being developed as a terminal for Egmore railway station.[6]

In June 2014, the station was renovated in a major way after decades of neglect.[7] In 2019, work on the extension of platforms to accommodate 24-rake long-distance trains began.[8]

In 2019, the construction work for a new footbridge connecting Platforms 1 and 2 began, replacing the existing one.[5]

See also

References
  1. "IR Electrification Chronology up to 31.03.2004". History of Electrification. IRFCA.org. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  2. "Go northwest, but don't take a train". The Times of India. Chennai: The Times Group. 27 April 2013. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2013.
  3. Madhavan, D. (12 April 2019). "Relocate ticket vending machine". The Hindu. Chennai: Kasturi & Sons. pp. DownTown (page 7). Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  4. Bhattacharya, Saptarshi (17 June 2001). "Most foot overbridges at rail stations in a state of disuse". The Hindu. Chennai. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  5. Madhavan, D. (8 December 2019). "FOB work gaining speed at Ambattur station". The Hindu. Chennai: Kasturi & Sons. pp. 3 (DownTown). Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  6. "Plans to develop Avadi or Ambattur railway station". The Times of India. Chennai: The Times Group. 16 November 2008. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  7. Nicholas, Naomi (22–28 June 2014). "Rly station gets new look". Ambattur Talk. Chennai. p. 8.
  8. Madhavan, D. (21 July 2019). "Extension of Ambattur Railway Station platforms put on a fast track". The Hindu. Chennai: Kasturi & Sons. pp. 2 (DownTown). Retrieved 21 July 2019.
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