The Tamil Nadu Consumer Federation has urged the Railway Minister to accord due importance to the Tiruchi Railway Division and introduce direct trains from here to major cities such as Mumbai, New Delhi, and Bangalore.
In a representation sent to the Railway Minister D.V.Sadanand Gowda, M.Sekaran, president of the federation, regretted that despite being one of the top revenue earning stations with limited train service, Tiruchi has been neglected.
Presenting a charter of demands, he urged the Minister to restore the Pallavan Express to Tiruchi, which was extended up to Karaikudi during the previous regime.
The train was operating to just about 10 per cent capacity on the Tiruchi-Karaikudi section, he said and demanded that it be operated on the Tiruchi-Chennai section.
Introduction of a direct train between Tiruchi and Mumbai has been a long pending demand. The Mumbai CST-Chennai Central Express could be extended to Tiruchi via chord line or a tri-weekly service between Tiruchi and Mumbai should be introduced.
Similarly, a direct service on the Tiruchi-Srirangam-Tirupati section should be introduced.
The Tiruchi-Tirupati Express has not been restored after gauge conversion.
An intercity express between Tiruchi and Guruvayur should be operated via Karur, Erode, and Coimbatore to meet another long-pending demand.
The Railways should also restore and regularise the Tiruchi and Bangalore summer special which was withdrawn even though it had attracted good patronage.
The federation also suggested the extension of the Kacheguda-Chennai Egmore Express to Tiruchi via mainline, the Tiruchi-Tirunelveli Intercity Express to Trivandrum Central, the Tiruchi-Dindigul Passenger up to Palani, the Tiruchi-Karur DEMU service up to Salem via Namakkal, the Bikaner-Coimbatore Express to Tiruchi, and the Salem-Karur Passenger to run between Tiruchi and Hosur.
The Rameswaram-Okha Weekly Express should be operated via Tiruchi and its frequency should be increased, Mr.Sekaran demanded.
The federation appealed to the Minister to allot sufficient funds for track doubling on the chord line to increase the frequency of trains.
