After a gap of 16 years, rail users in Pattukottai, Adhirampattinam and Aranthangi areas have finally got direct connectivity to Chennai again.
The operation of Secunderabad - Chennai - Rameswaram - Secunderabad weekly special trains via Tiruvarur - Karaikudi broad gauge stretch has gladdened rail users of the above areas who have been deprived of a direct service to Chennai for long.
The inter-state train began its operation from Secunderabad on August 24 with stoppages at Tiruvarur, Thiruthuraipoondi, Adhirampattinam, Pattukottai and Aranthangi en route. Rail services to Chennai on the Karaikudi - Tiruvarur BG section via Aranthangi, Adirampattinam, Pattukottai and Tiruthuraipoondi were suspended several years ago to carry out gauge conversion work on this stretch.
The nearly 150-kilometre Tiruvarur - Karaikudi section witnessed inordinate delay in the execution of gauge conversion works. The works were completed in portions- at first from Pattukottai to Karaikudi via Aranthangi and thereafter from Tiruvarur to Pattukottai via Thiruthuraipoondi.
Even after completion of entire works after prolonged delay, express train services on this stretch did not resume due to non-deployment of gatekeepers. A DEMU (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit) train from Tiruvarur to Karaikudi and back with onboard gatekeepers was operated at first. Rail travellers, especially those in the east coast of the delta region, had been demanding direct train services from Karaikudi to Chennai and back.
A section of the general public distributed sweets to the rail passengers of the Secunderabad - Chennai - Rameswaram train when it arrived at Pattukottai station on Thursday afternoon. They adorned the loco pilot and the guard with shawls feeling elated over the connectivity to Chennai.
“We are glad that that connectivity to Chennai has resumed”, said V. Viveganantham, secretary Pattukottai Taluk Railway Passengers Welfare Association.
“Rail users will be more happy if the railway administration operates a night service to Chennai from Karaikudi and from Karaikudi to Chennai via Aranthangi, Pattukottai, Adirampattinam and Thiruthuraipoondi”, Mr. Viveganantham said.
The railway authorities should take efforts to deploy full time permanent gatekeepers for all manned level crossings on the Tiruvarur - Karaikudi BG section and restore overnight daily train service to Chennai at the earliest, said A. Giri, secretary, Thanjavur District Railway Users Association. This alone would fulfil the long-felt demand of the rail users Pattukottai, Aranthangi and nearby places, he added.
