Even before the opening of Pollachi-Palghat section, representatives of political parties and members of various trade and other organisations urged the Southern Railways not to extend existing Palani-bound trains to Palghat.
All trains that were extended to Pollachi must be reverted and started from Palani, they demanded.
These appeals were made at an interaction session held between traders and merchants and Sunil Kumar Garg, Divisional Railway Manager (Madurai Division) here on Wednesday.
Indiya Jananayaka Katchi town president S.V. Nageshwaran said that Palani attracted up to one lakh pilgrims during the festival season.
Even a separate train from Palani to Chennai would not suffice to serve that many people. Extension of trains to Pollachi had already affected Palani.
If the railway extended the trains to Palghat, the people of Palani would resort to a rail roko, he added.
Auditor Pabavinasam said that extension plan, if any, would defeat the purpose of introduction of trains to Palani. Officials remained silent over this issue.
Traders also demanded revival of parcel service.
The State Consultative Committee members of Dindigul railway station demanded an express train to Chennai from Dindigul and improved facilities at Dindigul station at the committee’s first meeting, presided over by S.M. Shajahan, Assistant Commercial Manager, Madurai Division, Southern Railway, at Dindigul station on Wednesday morning.
Mr. Shajahan said that traffic was heavy in Chennai-Madurai section. Track utility was more than 130 per cent.
Time and space constraints prevented the authorities from operating more trains, he said.
The members suggested that trains could be operated to Chennai Central Station instead of Egmore station.
Traffic flow was less in Dindigul-Salem section. Completion of track doubling in Chennai- Madurai section would ease traffic, they added.
Railway officials, however, assured them that they would take up the matter with their higher-ups.
“If the railway extended the trains to Palghat, the people of Palani would resort to a rail roko”
