Running of new trains and additional stoppages for trains at new stations were the major demands raised by Members of Parliament from Madurai and Tiruchi railway divisions at a meeting with railway officials, led by Southern Railway General Manager, R.K. Kulshrestha, here on Saturday.
Ramanathapuram MP, A. Anwhar Raajhaa, wanted the officials to run additional trains from Rameswaram, especially between Coimbatore and Rameswaram. This was supported by Rajya Sabha MP Vijila Sathyananth, a railway statement said.
He urged the officials to provide stoppage of Ayodhya Express at Ramanathapuram.
Madurai MP R. Gopalakrishnan stressed the need for providing additional passenger amenities and stoppage of Pandian Express at Koodal Nagar station. Sivaganga MP PR. Senthilnathan wanted the railways to keep him updated on the progress of new line project within his constituency and requested increase of frequency of Silambu Express.
Theni R. Parthiban demanded that the survey for the new line between Dindigul and Sabarimala be expedited. Tenkasi MP, M. Vasanthi, wanted the railways to run a day express train between Sengottah and Coimbatore and improve the platforms at Srivilliputtur and Pamba Koil Shandy.
Kollam MP N.K. Premachandran wanted the railways to reintroduce trains which were run on Shencottah-Kollam section prior to taking up gauge conversion work. Pollachi MP C. Mahendran demanded stoppage of Amirtha Express at the station.
The General Manager said that the commissioning of double line on the Madurai-Maniyachi-Tuticorin and Maniyachi-Nagecoil-Kanniyakumar-Tirivananthapuram section would meet several of the unmet demands for additional trains for the southern region.
Thanjavur MP K. Parasuraman offered to provide battery-operated car worth ₹12 lakh from MPLAD fund.
To a request by Puducherry MP R. Radhakrishnan, the officials assured him that Circar Express will be extended up to Puducherry after completion of two crossing stations between Villupuram and Puducherry.
Nagapattinam MP Dr. Gopal requested speedy completion of gauge conversion work between Tiruvarur and Karaikudi section. It was assured that this gauge conversion will be completed before by 2018.
Divisional Railway Managers, Neenu Ittyerah (Madurai) Uday Kumar Reddy (Tiruchi) and Principal Heads of Departments of Southern Railway participated in the meeting.
