Southern Railway seeks relocation of 43 TASMAC outlets in Tamil Nadu

Southern Railway has requested the Tamil Nadu government to relocate 43 TASMAC liquor outlets situated near railway stations and tracks in Chennai and surrounding districts. The request follows repeated reports of trespassing deaths, accidents, and passenger nuisance.

Railway officials identified specific locations in districts including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Vellore, Tirupattur, Ranipet, and Kanchipuram. Reported issues include individuals trespassing on tracks, sleeping on platforms or inside coaches, and the harassment of women passengers. Additionally, authorities have noted instances of littering, theft, and the tampering of railway assets, such as copper signal wires.

Commuter representatives highlighted specific problems at stations like Ambattur, Tiruvallur, and Avadi. In some instances, customers have allegedly brought alcohol onto suburban trains. While TASMAC officials have noted the difficulty of finding suitable replacement premises, the railway has escalated the matter to the state's chief secretary after receiving no response to previous correspondence sent in 2024 and 2025.