Bowing to public demand, the railways has announced that the experimental or temporary stoppages provided for trains which were due to expire on or after September 30 would continue until further advice.
ReliefActing on Railway Board order, the Southern Railway’s announcement in this regard on its website a few days ago has come as a relief to the people of delta districts who were shocked over the removal of stoppages at certain stations, including Papanasam and Sirkazhi in the main line section for some express trains from October 1.
Learning about the removal of stops from the deletion of certain stations in the passenger reservation system, rail passenger associations in the delta region had made strong pleas to the railway administration to retain the stops.
For instance, the commuters wanted the continuance of stoppage of the Chennai- Tiruchendur- Chennai, Chennai – Mannargudi – Chennai Mannai expresses and the Chennai – Tiruchi – Chennai Cholan expresses at Papanasam railway station which was deleted from the passenger reservation system with effect from October 1.
The associations approached Members of Parliament to exert pressure on the railway administration on the need for continuing with the existing commercial stoppages beyond September 30 in the interest of travellers.
Their contention was that the removal of existing stops, including Sirkazhi and Papanasam, would greatly affect different sections of society dependent on trains.
The Southern Railway’s announcement comes as a big relief to the people of delta districts, said T. Saravanan, secretary, Train Passengers Association, Papanasam.
The railways should take steps to make them as permanent stops instead of halting it on experimental basis, says A. Giri, vice-president, Thanjavur District Rail Users’ Association.
The Mannai, Uzhavan, Cholan, and Chennai–Tiruchendur Expresses were receiving good patronage at Papanasam which resulted in the station’s booking revenue crossing the Rs. 8 lakh every month, Mr. Saravanan said.
The railway administration should take steps to halt the Rameswaram–Tirupati–Rameswaram expresses at Papanasam, a holy town visited by several pilgrims, he said.
