The Ministry of Railways has turned down a proposal seeking the establishment of a new railway station at Reddipalayam between Thanjavur Junction and Alakkudi stations on the Thanjavur - Thanjavur broad gauge section.
The Ministry has made it clear that the it was not “feasible” from the engineering point of view to open a new railway station at Reddipalayam. Union Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain gave a written reply in this regard to a question raised by the Thanjavur Lok Sabha Member of Parliament K. Parasuraman recently.
Mr. Parasuraman in his question wanted to know from the Central government whether it had received the survey report regarding the need to establish a new railway station between Thanjavur Junction and Alakkudi station in view of increasing congestion and if so the details.
The Minister in his reply clearly stated that the “proposal regarding opening of a new railway station at Reddipalayam between Thanjavur Junction and Alakkudi railway station was examined but not found feasible from engineering point of view”.
“There is also no commercial justification for opening of a railway station within three kilometres of Thanjavur Junction and adequate road transport facilities are already available at the proposed site”, the Minister of State further said in the reply.
The Minister's reply has virtually put an end to the demand seeking a new railway station near Thanjavur. Rail users in Thanjavur and nearby towns wanted the opening of a new railway station either at Reddipalayam or Manojipatti to cater to the increasing demand.
The demand for a new railway station was put forth as Reddipalayam was close to the new bus stand, the new district Collectorate, office of the Superintendent of Police, Thanjavur Medical College Hospital besides housing a slew of educational institutions and residential localities in and around its vicinity, says V. Jeevakumar, district secretary, Thanjavur District Rail Users Association.
Areas in and around Reddipalayam witness movement of thousands of people every day to various offices and other institutions. Coming from Thanjavur junction to Reddipalayam was proving difficult and hence, the demand for a new station as Thanjavur Junction area had become congested, said Mr. Jeevakumar. “We will, however, continue to raise this demand,” he said expressing hope that the proposal could materialise in future.
