Demand grows to restore Coimbatore–Rameswaram train service

Coimbatore: Demand is growing louder to restore the Coimbatore–Rameswaram train service, which was in operation for nearly 80 years.The Coimbatore-Rameswaram train service was first introduced in 1928 during the British rule. It operated successfully for eight decades before being discontinued in 2008 to facilitate the conversion of the Coimbatore–Pollachi and Pollachi–Dindigul railway lines from metre gauge to broad gauge.
While the Pollachi–Dindigul broad gauge work was completed in 2015 and the Coimbatore–Pollachi section in 2017, the Coimbatore–Rameswaram train service has not been fully restored. T Krishna Balaji, secretary of the Pollachi Train Passengers Welfare Association, said that although a weekly train currently runs between Coimbatore and Rameswaram every Tuesday via Karur and Trichy, the long-pending demand is to restore the service to its original route and frequency. He said the train should be operated daily via Podanur, Kinathukadavu, Pollachi, Udumalpet, Palani, Dindigul, Madurai, Manamadurai and Ramanathapuram to Rameswaram, as it was in the past. Recalling the earlier service, Krishna Balaji said the train not only transported seafood such as fish and dried fish in large quantities but also provided a convenient option for pilgrims. "Passengers could leave Coimbatore in the morning, reach the famous Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram, and return the same evening, arriving in Coimbatore the next day. At one point, there were up to two-three services a day, making it very convenient for spiritual travel," he said. He alleged that congestion at Coimbatore Junction has been cited as a reason for the delay in restoring the service. A proposal by Salem railway division to operate the train from Erode via Tirupur and Coimbatore to Rameswaram has also reportedly been kept pending without progress. Pointing out that several new trains, including Vande Bharat services and trains to northern states, are being operated from Rameswaram, he said it was difficult to understand the delay in restoring a direct service from Coimbatore. Stating that the Coimbatore–Rameswaram train connects southern and western districts of the state, he urged the railways to at least expedite the Erode-route proposal, which would also benefit passengers from Erode and Tirupur districts. J Sathish, director of Kongu Global Forum, said many people from southern districts are employed in Coimbatore and Tirupur, which are hubs for small, micro and medium enterprises (MSMEs). With Coimbatore also emerging as a major destination for higher education, he said the train service between Coimbatore and Rameswaram serves as an important connectivity link for lakhs of people travelling for work and studies. He pointed out that the train was originally introduced to connect key spiritual centres such as Palani, Madurai, Rameswaram, and Dhanushkodi. "It is unfortunate that the original purpose of the service has been completely diluted now," he said.Sathish said that in the present scenario, the service would be essential not only for passengers but also for goods transport.