MPs raise several demands at Southern Railway meeting at Tiruchi

Members of Parliament at the meeting organised by Southern Railway at Tiruchi on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

A mosaic of demands were raised by Lok Sabha MPs elected from constituencies falling under the limits of the Tiruchi Railway Division at a high-level meeting organised by Southern Railway here on Wednesday.

Introduction of trains, improvement of passenger amenities, provision of additional halts at chosen stations, increasing the frequency of trains, extension of existing train services and track doubling were among the host of demands raised by the MPs at the meeting.

The nearly three-hour long meeting, presided over by Southern Railway General Manager R.N. Singh, was attended by heads of various railway departments. This is the first meeting of MPs of Tiruchi division convened after the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. 

A long-pending demand for doubling the mainline section from Thanjavur to Villupuram via Kumbakonam and Mayiladuthurai was raised by Mayiladuthurai Lok Sabha MP R. Sudha. The age-old mainline section with a single railway track at present was being used by over 25,000 passengers daily. However, it was yet to be converted into a double line stretch despite repeated representations from rail passengers associations.

The Mahamaham festival at Kumbakonam attracting devotees from various parts of the country was scheduled to take place in 2028. Unless, the section was made a double line stretch, it would cause inconvenience and immeasurable hardship to devotees, Ms. Sudha said and urged the railway administration to sanction the doubling project at the earliest and allot necessary funds to complete it ahead of the Mahamaham festival.

Restoration of the Mayiladuthurai – Tharangambadi railway line, operation of inter-city Tiruchi – Tambaram express via Mayiladuthurai on all seven days a week, introduction of a night train from Mayiladuthurai to Coimbatore and introduction of a day-time intercity express with chair coaches from Mayiladuthurai to Chennai and back were the other demands raised by Ms. Sudha.

Tiruchi Lok Sabha MP Durai Vaiko requested the railway administration to provide a halt of Tiruchi – Chennai Egmore – Tiruchi Cholan express trains at Tiruverumbur railway station near Tiruchi as it was surrounded by industries and institutions. 

Mr. Durai Vaiko said he had also raised the delay in the demolition of the old bridge near the Tiruchi Fort railway station. The bridge serves as a crucial arterial link connecting major parts of Tiruchi city. While construction work by the State government on either side was progressing swiftly, the demolition of the old bridge by the railways was holding up the overall project. He requested the railway authorities to expedite the demolition and facilitate timely completion of the road overbridge.

The need for accommodating Rockfort express on platform 1 at Tiruchi Junction to benefit travellers especially senior citizens and persons with disabilities and introduction of an express train from Tiruchi to Kanniyakumari or Thoothukudi were among the other demands raised by Mr. Durai Vaiko.

Nagapattinam Lok Sabha MP V. Selvaraj sought the introduction of a daily passenger service from Agasthiyampalli to Tiruchi via Thiruthuraipoondi and Tiruvarur to benefit daily commuters. Expediting the modernisation works at railway stations taken up under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, early approval and sanction of funds for doubling the Karaikal – Thanjavur broad gauge section and extension of Punalur – Madurai express up to Karaikal were among his other demands.

Villupuram Lok Sabha MP D. Ravikumar sought the halt of Tejas Express at Villupuram since it was a major junction connecting various routes. Improvement of passenger amenities at Ulundurpet station such as provision of battery cars for the benefit of senior citizens and installation of display boards to indicate train arrivals, departures and coach positions besides provision of escalators at Villupuram Junction were his other demands.

Puducherry Lok Sabha MP V. Vaithilingam, Thanjavur MP S. Murasoli, Perambalur MP Arun Nehru, Cuddalore MP M.K. Vishnu Prasad, Tiruvannamalai MP C.N. Annadurai and Rajya Sabha members S. Kalyanasundaram and M. Shanmugam attended the meeting.

Mr. Singh explained the recent achievements and various initiatives taken to enhance passenger amenities across the zone.