The city of Madras (now Chennai) was the first to start a train service in India after the full-fledged station at Royapuram. Royapuram railway station is India’s oldest surviving railway station, perfectly functioning even as it enters its 167th year in 2022. The first train of southern India from this station caught pace on June 28, 1856. The first passengers on board were the Governor of Madras Presidency, Lord Harris, and 300 European delegates. Read on to know more about India’s oldest surviving railway station.
Royapuram Railway Station Has Been Chennai’s Central Railway Station Since 1907.
India’s oldest surviving railway station Royapuram was inaugurated on July 1, 1856, by Lord Harris.
It operated from the Royapuram railway terminus to Wallajah Road. The road is now known as Walajabad in the Kancheepuram district. Built by Madras Railway Company, the Royapuram station still remains Chennai’s central railway station. The heritage building of the station was designed by William Adelpi Tracey. And it was only in 2005 that the station got a renovation at the cost of ₹35 lakh. However, the old structure is still kept intact. Totally an architectural brilliance that stands the test of time!
Current Scenario Of India’s Oldest Surviving Railway Station
With time and modernization, the old gems slowly start fading away. People tend to prefer newer inventions. Even though Royapuram railway station stands tall in all its glory, the number of commuters has decreased tremendously over the years. It’s the Chennai Central or the Egmore railway stations that have the most crowds now. India’s oldest railway station is mainly isolated with just a handful of commuters dropping in occasionally. Those few are the only commuters that take one of the few odd trains that currently stop at the station. The general public however believes that improving amenities might help the station retain its lost crowd. The extension of the foot-overbridge to the south side of the railway station might be one of the first steps, to begin with. Along with that, the public feels that installing closed-circuit television cameras and posting parking contractors might be of help too. Well, let’s hope the station is able to regain its lost glory!
Also read: This Scenic Stretch Within The Western Ghats Is The Greenest Railway Route In India
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