Improvements in passenger amenities in stations, time-bound action plan for completion of gauge conversion works, restoration of some trains and introduction of new trains were among the host of issues raised by the Members of Parliament at a meeting organised by the Southern Railway here on Tuesday.
The participating Members of Parliament placed their respective wish lists during the course of the meeting that was convened by the Southern Railway General Manager Rakesh Misra at the Zonal Railway Training Centre.
The principal heads of various railway departments and senior Tiruchi railway divisional officers were present at the nearly three-hour long meeting in which 25 Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs from Tiruchi and Madurai railway divisions participated.
Raising a host of issues, Tiruchi MP P.Kumar sought doubling of the Villupuram-Kanyakumari section as this would enable in operation of more trains. He also wanted allocation of more funds for the ongoing Villupuram-Dindigul doubling project being executed by the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited.
Introduction of a new train to Bangalore from Tiruchi or from Tiruchi to Mysore was yet another demand placed by Mr.Kumar.
Rajya Sabha Member Tiruchi N.Siva sought the restoration of the Tiruchi-Bangalore train via Vriddhachalam and Salem which had been stopped. He also wanted the operation of a passenger train from Tiruchi to Villupuram.
Mr.Siva strongly argued for an escalator facility at Tiruchi railway junction, for which he had sanctioned funds, in the interest of the travelling public. He said a time-bound action plan was required to complete the Tiruvarur-Karaikudi gauge conversion works. Mayiladuthurai MP R.K.Bharathimohan wanted creation of additional infrastructure facilities at Kumbakonam railway station to cope with the huge flow of pilgrims during the Mahamaham festival scheduled in early 2016.
The facilities which include construction of a rail yatri nivas in Kumbakonam should be completed well before the festival, he said.
Restoration of train services between Mayiladuthurai and Tharangampadi and introduction of a direct train between Thanjavur and Salem via Kumbakonam, Cuddalore, and Vriddhachalam also formed part of his demands.
Chidambaram MP M.Chandrakasi sought additional infrastructure facilities at Chidambaram railway station. He said the rakes of the Uzhavan Express were kept idle in the morning hours in Thanjavur. It could be put to use by operating it as a train from Thanjavur to Cuddalore and back for the benefit of the travellers.
Pollachi MP C.Mahendran wanted the operation of a new train from Pollachi to Bangalore and another train from Pollachi to Chennai. Separate passenger reservation system at Udumalpet and provision of godown and passenger facilities at Pollachi were some of his other demands.
