The sole factor behind the quick growth of the suburb of Perambur was the train service. It was in Perambur in those days there was a subway available unlike the foot over-bridges of other railway stations, to go from one platform to the other. There will be a sudden crowd of around a hundred to two hundred with the arrival of each train. The entire crowd would suddenly vanish under the earth and would emerge again within minutes from another end as though they were coming out from the womb of the earth.

There is an over-bridge in the Perambur Railway Station as in the case of other stations. Only, our Prime Minister Vajpayee could not climb the flight of stairs. The subway is still there, unused and rendered unusable too, with dust and garbage blanketing its floors.

I was quite impressed by this subway, fifty years back. There was another impressive subway in Perambur. It is still in existence, close to the railway station, where the road crosses under the railroad. An over-bridge was planned to be constructed to handle the ever-increasing traffic. They even started its construction on either side of the railway track. But sadly, it could not be completed and the half-completed over-bridge hangs over the track on either side, wearing the appearance of two commercial complexes. Think of it.

Even in Delhi and Jaipur there is only one commercial complex. But Perambur has two of them (or at least the likeness of them) in the form of this unfinished over-bridge. Who knows? May be in another ten years the tourist guidebooks may carry awe-inspiring lines like 'These were constructed by Raja Jaisingh' and all those stuff. And you know what? One has to be an athlete to reach the Perambur bus stop in its proximity. One has to have a strong will, strong physique and should be familiar with high jump and long jump and other track events. It is known as the Perambur Highway. I think the proper name for it would be Perambur Hardway.

Life in Chennai is so full of surprises, wonders and amazements.

Ashoka Mithran

Retro Chennai from Asoka Mithran looks back at Chennai, in fact the Madras as it was known and existed. The column traces the city's lifescape at various points of time.