Urban nomads: the floating population who fall asleep under the stars on Chennai’s rail lines
The article provides a poignant glimpse into the lives of homeless individuals who find shelter in the vast, often abandoned railway stations of Chennai, India. It focuses on the experiences of Parthasarathy, a laborer who missed his train and slept on a bench, and Ramesh, a disabled day laborer who considers the railway station his home. The Chennai Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS), built in 1995 to reduce travel time for a growing population, now serves as an unintended refuge for the city's nomadic and disabled poor. The article highlights the challenges faced by this floating population, including police harassment and social stigma. It paints a picture of urban isolation and the struggle for survival in a city that has turned its back on its most vulnerable citizens.
