Public in and around Mathur in Ariyalur district have urged the railway administration to operate trains with normal general second class coaches instead of DEMU (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit) rakes from Tiruchi to Cuddalore Port and from Tiruchi to Vriddhachalam.
Commuters travelling in DEMU rakes that were being operated now from Tiruchi to Cuddalore and from Tiruchi to Vriddhachalam have been facing inconvenience in the absence of toilets in such rakes.
Seat arrangements in DEMU rakes were too close posing difficulty to travellers especially for aged persons, said P. Neelamegam, a resident of Ayanthathanur near Mathur. Besides, the number of DEMU rakes being operated was fewer in number. The normal general second class coaches were spacious for travellers and had toilet facility unlike the DEMU rakes. Instead of DEMU trains, the railways should operate passenger trains with normal general second class coaches to alleviate the inconvenience being faced by travellers in DEMU rakes, he said.
Meanwhile, a group of public from Mathur and its nearby villages staged a demonstration for over two hours in front of the Mathur railway station falling between Ariyalur and Vriddhachalam on Sunday.
The demonstrators wanted the railway administration to restart the Chennai-Rameswaram-Chennai Passenger trains which were stopped years ago. They wanted construction of a railway subway between Mathur and Padavettikaadu.
With Mathur being a central location for several villages, they wanted the administration to stop either the Pallavan or Vaigai or Guruvayur Express at Mathur station for the benefit of villagers. They wanted construction of a toilet and vehicle parking lot at Mathur station.
