Rail commuters in Thoothukudi demand better road connectivity to Vanchi Maniyachi station so that they could reach the station in time to board express trains.
S. Arumugam, a frequent commuter to Chennai, said here on Sunday that only a limited number of trains reached Thoothukudi station, and hence passengers going to different destinations in the northern region had to go to Vanchi Maniyachi station, where most of the express trains bound to Madurai, Tiruchi, Chennai and other far-off destinations halted for a few minutes.
Now the road leading to Vanchi Maniyachi station was narrow and inadequate to handle the traffic, said J.P. Joe Villavarayar, former president, All India Chamber of Commerce and Industries (AICCI), Thoothukudi.
“Some Chennai-bound day trains touch Maniyachi, but people from Thoothukudi find it difficult to reach the station in time. Many passengers prefer to take the circuitous route to Kovilpatti to board trains,” he said.
Due to the hardship, many commuters from Thoothukudi took private luxury buses to Chennai, Mr. Villavarayar said.
P.S.S.K. Raja Sankaralingam, former general secretary, AICCI, Thoothukudi, said the dedicated road project to link Thoothukudi and Maniyachi station, announced by the State Government, was yet to be taken up. The road would also offer more livelihood opportunities for the people and improve the local economy.
R. Edwin Samuel, former chairman, Confederation of Indian Industry, Thoothukudi, said if Maniyachi road link was established properly, travel time to cover the distance would be shortened to enable passengers to board around 36 trains passing through Maniyachi station without much difficulty.
If a new road was laid, passengers could also board Kanyakumari– New Delhi Thirukural Express and other trains proceeding to Mumbai and others distant parts of India, K. Nehruprakash, vice-president, Thoothukudi District Tiny and Small-Scale Industries Association (THUDITSSIA), said.
Collector M. Ravikumar told The Hindu that land acquisition for the 27-km-long short distance route between Vanchi Maniyachi and Thoothukudi along the rail track was at the final stage, and works were expected to start soon. Maniyachi station was expected to emerge as the ‘second terminus railway station’ for Thoothukudi passengers. The first phase of land acquisition for Thoothukudi-Madurai new direct rail line via Milavittan, Melamarudur, Kulathur, Vilathikulam and Aruppukottai was over, Mr. Ravikumar added.
The road leading to the Vanchi Maniyachi station was narrow and inadequate to handle the traffic
