The Southern Railway has put up a metal shelter to protect thousands of commuters on the southern side of the Central station from the heat.

It would soon start work to install a metal roof shelter on the pavement connecting the Chennai Central railway station and the Moore Market Complex suburban terminal.

The present shelter on the southern side of the Central railway station, built a couple of months ago, helps a large number of people take rest under the shade. Although the commuters are grateful, they complain that it covers only a short distance and should be extended. Those walking out of the MMC and Central railway station towards the Poonamallee High Road and to the Central Metro station do not have any shade, they said.

A senior railway official said the shelter was sanctioned by the previous Divisional Railway Manager Naveen Gulati and was inaugurated before the model code of conduct was announced. The construction of the shelter till Moore Market complex would begin after the election results are announced on May 23.

Meanwhile, two new food plazas would come up at the Central station complex in the next few months.

At present, a food plaza is open near Platform No. 1. A new food plaza inside the Central station and one more near the MMC subsurban station are coming up, an official said.