‘Upgrade Shencottai –Tambaram weekly thrice express train as regular service’

Considering the excellent patronage, Southern Railway should operate the thrice weekly Shencottai – Tambaram Express as a daily service, the Tenkasi District Train Passengers Association has said.

Accordign to its president R. Pandiaraja, the train, which enjoys 110% patronage, should be made a regular service considering the overwhelming business on the route. The stoppages of Tenkasi, Paavoorchathram, Ambasamudram, Kallidaikurichi and Cheranmahadevi should be retained even when it becomes a daily service to give one more train connectivity between the southern districts and Chennai.

Southern Railway should operate Thoothukudi – Mangalore and Tirunelveli – Bengaluru special trains, while the Tirunelveli – Tambaram Express Train via Tenkasi and Tirunelveli – Mettupalayam train via Tenkasi should be upgraded as regular service since patronage for these two trains is high. A day train should be operated from Tirunelveli to Kollam.

“We had this day train during the meter gauge era. When the broad gauge was laid, this train service was withdrawn for no reason. Since the patronage for this day train will be extremely good as it connects the neighbouring Kerala, the Tirunelveli – Kollam day train service should be revived to boost tourism,” Mr. Pandiaraja said.

Southern Railway should invest heavily in improving basic infrastructure facilities in the Paavoorchathram, Keezha Kadayam, Ambasamudram, Kallidaikurichi and Cheranmahadevi railway stations where the platforms should be sufficiently extended to accommodate 24 coaches. The Tenkasi Railway Station should be upgraded as terminus by creating facilities for cleaning the coaches and erect roof over the first platform of Paavoorchathram railway station.

The inordinate delay in completing the construction of rail overbridge at Paavoorchathram manned level crossing was “unbearable and unacceptable”, he said.

“Besides causing accidents, the delay in completing the bridge over the railway track result in traffic snarl everyday. When the pit for the pillar was dug near the track recently in the presence of officials from various departments including Indian Railways, the earthmover operator accidentally damaged the signal cables. And, this work was abandoned immediately for reasons best known to the officials. If this work gets delayed further, we, the passengers’ association will mobilise the public and agitate,” he added.

After passing resolutions to press the demands, the association has submitted them to Southern Railway.