Chennai: Egmore railway station completes 100 years
Madhu Bharathi
Thursday, June 12, 2008, (Chennai)
The Ezhumbur railway station in Chennai, a station more popularly known as the gateway to the south, celebrated its 100th birthday on Wednesday.
Also known as Egmore railway station, the Ezhumbur station had its first passenger walked into on June 11, 1908, with four more passengers on that day.
One hundred years on, the building designed by Henry Irwing, a famed designer of the British era, is one of Chennai's most famous landmarks.
Situated in 2.5 acres of land, it was one of the only two railway stations in the country where a passenger could drive-in to the platform and board the coach straight on.
"The first train was Boat Mail and from the one train on that day, the station now carries more than 10 lakh passengers every day," said Rakesh Chopra, General Manager, Southern Railway.
In 1908, Ezhumbur station cost 17 lakh to build, which is completely with granite and sandstone.
Randor Guy, historian said, "There used to be a bar you know. The whole of Egmore had this British feel. The place used to be great until this traffic got so bad."
Ironically, though the station was built to decongest some part of Chennai, Egmore however, has continued to serve as the gateway to the South, connecting Chennai to Trivandrum, Madurai and the port city of Tutucorin.