The Cauvery Delta region is being neglected by the Railways claimed, the State secretary of Communist Party of India, R. Mutharasan, here on Monday.
In a statement released here, Mr.Mutharasan pointed out that several projects initiated by the Railways in the region have not been completed. For instance, work on laying the track between Agasthiampalli and Thiruthuraipoondi, which had earlier served as a vital link for transportation of salt from Vedaranyam to other parts of the country, has been moving at a snail’s pace and laying of track on the Railway owned stretch from Peralam to Karaikal railway stations was yet to be taken up.
Not even a stone has been laid with respect to the Thiruthuraipoondi-Vailankanni project for which land had already been acquired.
Further, the Muthupettai railway station has been downgraded in the Tiruvarur-Karaikudi section resulting in withdrawal of passenger ticket reservation and parcel services facilities and stoppage for express trains. Proposals to operate trains from Tiruvarur to Karaikudi and between Tiruvarur and Thiruthuraipoondi was yet to become a reality even though the newly laid broad gauge track has been cleared for operations by the Railway Safety Commissioner.
Demanding the revival of long distance express services from Chennai to destinations in Southern districts, which had been in operation earlier, Mr. Mutharasan urged the Southern Railway to forward project reports to the Railway Board in such a manner that sufficient fund was allocated for the pending projects in the forthcoming Union Budget.
Revival of train services
Meanwhile, the Peravurani Taluk Rail Users’ Association has demanded early introduction of train services on the newly laid broad gauge track benefiting the commuters who have been deprived of the services since 2012 when the gauge conversion work was taken up by the Railways.
The Association said it would organise demonstration by roping in the public to press the demand for revival of train services on this route. It also decried the six hour running time of the proposed train service between Karaikudi and Tiruvarur and demanded that it should be reduced by half for the benefit of commuters. The association has also announced that it would organise a demonstration if the revival of train services on this section gets delayed.
