The Papanasam railway station, between Thanjavur and Kumbakonam, is crying for attention of the authorities concerned as commuters find it lacking basic facilities. With Mahamaham to be conducted in Kumbakonam on February 22 and Papanasam, which is expected to play a crucial role in managing rail traffic to clear rush of pilgrims during the period, has been languishing with scarce facilities.
Papanasam is close to several tourist spots such as Keezha Rameswaram Sri Ramalinga Swamy temple, Thirupalathurai Sri Palaivana Nathar Swamy temple, Sri Garbarakshambigai temple at Thirukarugavoor, Sri Gajendra Varadar temple at Kabisthalam, Sri Aandalakkum Ayyan Perumal temple at Thiruaadhanoor, Sri Kolaavlvil Ramar temple at Pullaboothangudi, Sri Kalinga Narthana Perumal temple at Oothukkadu, Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple at Sothamangalam, among others.
Papanasam happens to be the birth place of the Tamil scholar “Tamil Thattha” U. Ve. Swaminatha Ayyar and the Art of Living founder Sri Ravishankar Swamiji. Papanasam is a taluk headquarters and commands representation in the State Assembly.
The station had been generating good revenue over the years. It gets Rs. one crore annually through passenger and season tickets. It caters to passengers travelling by Uzhavan Express, Mannai Express, Mysore-Mayiladuthurai Express, Tiruchendur Express and Cholan Express besides 10 passenger train services on any given day.
Yet certain eye sore remains in the form of two lavatories that have remained under lock and key for a long time, says the secretary of the Train Passengers’ Association T. Saravanan. Surface slabs on the platform have been disarranged in several places posing danger to commuters who could trip and fall due to them, he observes.
Shelters on the platform and lighting in areas away from the station building are inadequate. In the absence of a coach position indicator, passengers holding reserved tickets find it hard to locate the coach they had to board during nights as they scurry to beat the departure time of the trains, Mr. Saravanan notes. Wild growth of bushes adjacent to the platform in some places allows free movement of dangerous reptiles that rattle passengers.
For his part, the Mayildauthurai MP R.K. Bharathi Mohan has urged the authorities to erect high rise platform with proper roofing and improve drinking water and sanitary facilities on the platform.
Mr. Mohan has requested the railways to lay anew approach road to the station with good lighting.
