Rail users unhappy with unmet demands of MPs-GM meets

Trichy: The meeting of the general manager of Southern Railway with MPs of the constituencies falling under Trichy railway division has become a customary affair with no tangible results, say rail users.

Though the meeting is happening in Trichy, the city’s needs are not taken care of. Trichy is deprived of proper rail connectivity to major cities across the country, they said.

Lamenting the unresolved issues pending for years and unmet demands, rail users urged their parliamentarians participating in the meeting to pressurize the railway board to get things done.

“Trichy doesn’t have a dedicated daytime train to the state capital via Chord Line as the Pallavan express was extended to Karaikudi, which is to be short-terminated at Trichy. Despite the people of Trichy requesting an Intercity Train to Bengaluru for over two decades, it has not been introduced,” said V B Jaganath, Trichy Intra-City Development Endeavours (TIDES).

In trains coming from south to north, Trichy is in the pooled quota - which included trains extended from Trichy too, that makes it difficult for commuters from Trichy to get seats,” he added.

Operation of long-distance trains originating from Trichy to Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad are longpending demands. As the Uzhavan Express is maintained in Trichy, there is a possibility of operating it as Trichy-Chennai Express via Thanjavur. Additional Pit line work at Trichy junction yard is yet to start. The demand to restore Lalgudi-Trichy DEMU as Ariyalur-Trichy MEMU is also pending, Jaganath added.

The Nagore-Nagapattinam Rail Users’ Association appealed to the authorities to fulfill at least the genuine demands raised by the association, S Mohan, president of the association said. “We have been asking for operation of overnight express between Karaikal and Bengaluru via Trichy Namakkal and Salem. The proposal to extend the Erode-Trichy train up to Karaikal is also pending. Trains between Velankanni and Chennai should also be considered,” he added.

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