The Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP) urged the Railway Ministry to extend the Tiruchi-Tirunelveli Intercity Express to Mayiladuthurai.
A large number of passengers, devotees, and tourists of delta districts visit southern districts, but there is no direct daytime express train service between delta and southern districts and this causes much hardship to commuters , K.Rajendran, BJP National Council Member , said in a statement issued here on Thursday.
Culturally and spiritually, the connection between Mayiladuthurai and Tirunelveli dates back to centuries. The founders and heads of Dharmapuram, Tiruvavaduthurai, Tirupugalur, and Tirupanandal mutts hailed from Tirunelveli area, and they established their religious mutts in and around Mayiladuthurai. Gnanasambandar from Sirkazhi, established the Madurai Adheenam about 1,200 years ago .
ADVERTISEMENT
A large number of litigants and advocates of delta districts too visit the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court regularly.
The present intercity express between Tiruchi and Tirunelveli, leaving Tiruchi junction at 7.15 a.m. at present, is not enjoying expected patronage.
Mayiladuthurai Junction has adequate yard infrastructure and carriage maintenance facilities for operating express trains.
ADVERTISEMENT
As such, if the Tiruchi-Tirunelveli Express is extended to Mayiladuthurai, leaving the station at 5 a.m., it will immensely benefit commuters.
With the change, the train, introduced only a few months ago, would command good patronage, Mr.Rajendran said.