The Southern Railway Chennai Division has expanded passenger amenities by introducing 20 new parking facilities across multiple railway stations during the 2025-26 financial year. With the additions, the authorised number of parking locations under the division has increased from 106 to 126. The expansion is intended to ease commuter access and reduce vehicular congestion near station precincts.

The new parking sites include Vandalur, Potheri, Avadi South and North, Tambaram East, Chengalpattu, Perambur Carriage Works, Singaperumalkoil, Kadambattur and Tambaram Sanatorium, among others. Additional locations cited were Nemilicherry, Ennore, Sullurupeta, Arakkonam, Guindy, St. Thomas Mount and Jolarpettai. A multilevel parking facility of about 820.32 square metres has been commissioned at Chengalpattu junction to handle rising passenger traffic. The upgrades are part of a targeted effort to organise vehicle parking and streamline passenger movement.

Railway officials indicated that Chengalpattu and Perambur are being upgraded under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, which aims to improve passenger facilities and station infrastructure nationwide. The new parking facilities are equipped with digital ticketing systems, UPI payment options and CCTV surveillance to enhance convenience and security. Officials framed the works as elements of a broader modernisation plan across the suburban and long-distance network.

The initiative seeks to provide organised parking spaces and to mitigate informal parking that has contributed to congestion around station entrances. Implementation is intended to complement other accessibility measures and to support increased passenger volumes during peak periods. The division plans to monitor usage and to pursue further enhancements as part of continued infrastructure development.

Data on usage and commuter feedback will guide operational refinements and capacity planning by the division. Signage and approach roads will be rationalised to improve entry and exit flows and to reduce instances of double parking close to platforms. These steps complement ticketing and passenger information upgrades already under way in the division.