The cancellation of over 44 suburban train services on the Chennai Beach-Tambaram section led to packed Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses between Tambaram and Broadway on Sunday. Maintenance works, including checking rail joints and removing vegetation along the tracks, prompted the Southern Railway to halt train operations for over five hours.
Despite efforts to accommodate commuters with additional bus services, passengers faced inconvenience due to the sudden cancellations. Residents like S. Manickam from West Tambaram reported overcrowded buses, especially those heading to T. Nagar, as many commuters were unaware of the disruptions until reaching Tambaram station. However, railway officials assured that operations would return to normal on Monday, following the completion of maintenance tasks.