Railways urged to extend Bengaluru- Coimbatore Uday Double Decker to Pollachi

COIMBATORE: Railway users have renewed their demand that the Coimbatore–Bengaluru Uday Double Decker Express train be extended to Pollachi. They cited underutilized rail infrastructure and growing travel demand from the region to renew their demand.

Pollachi Junction railway station in Coimbatore district serves people of four taluks -- Pollachi, Kinathukadavu, Anaimalai and Valparai.


Though the Palakkad–Dindigul broad-gauge line was completed in 2015 and the Pollachi–Podanur section in 2017, only a limited number of trains are currently operated. The current train services to and fro Pollachi are inadequate despite the huge potential for travel related to spirituality, tourism and trade.

Thousands of people from Pollachi and surrounding areas are working in IT and other companies in Bengaluru. Many people from Pollachi travel to Bengaluru for medical treatment and a sizable number of students pursue higher education there. At present, there is no direct train connectivity between Pollachi and Bengaluru.

T Krishna Balaji, secretary of the Pollachi Train Passengers Welfare Association, said extending the train to Pollachi would benefit thousands of people from the region who are employed in Bengaluru. It would also help traders and students, he said.

“Coimbatore–Bengaluru Uday Express runs at full capacity only on weekends and Mondays, while on other weekdays it operates at nearly 50% occupancy. If the train is routed via Pollachi, it is likely to run at full capacity every day,” he said.

Balaji said the demand was raised by Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee member M K G Anandakumar during a consultative meeting held at the Palakkad divisional railway manager’s office on Feby 4. Officials had promised to consider their demand, he added.