Coimbatore, the second largest city of TN contributing 12 percent (Rs 3.5 lakh crore) to the state's GSDP should be immediately upgraded as a separate division like Madurai and Trichy and the headquarters at Podanur should be allowed to function. It is to be noted that Podanur was the headquarters of the South Indian Railways during the British period.
Coimbatore: Coimbatore is the second-largest city in Tamil Nadu, exporting goods and services worth Rs 25,000 crore in the last financial year, contributing 12% (Rs 3.5 lakh crore) to the state's GSDP.
In this city, which is growing rapidly in the fields of agriculture, education, medicine, foundries, textile mills, engineering industry, construction, trade, software and so on, rail facility needs to be improved like the rest of the country.
In the last financial year, Coimbatore district earned around Rs 300 crore from the sale of train tickets and about Rs 240 crore from freight. Coimbatore junction is listed in the NSG-2 category and is the third highest revenue generating station on the Southern Railway comprising Tamil Nadu and Kerala. About 132 trains stand at the junction with 36 trains departing from Coimbatore and ending.
The office bearers of railway associations from Mettupalayam, Periyanaickenpalayam, Vadakovai, Peelamedu, Singanallur, Podanur and Pollachi met today and decided on the next course of action on the demands listed below.
In this meeting, the following resolutions/demands were unanimously passed and the railways were documented to take action.
The requests for the consultation meeting are as follows:
1. A. Separate Division
Keeping in view the development and demand, Coimbatore should be immediately upgraded as a separate division like Madurai and Trichy and the headquarters at Podanur should be allowed to function. It is to be noted that Podanur was the headquarters of the South Indian Railways during the British period.
1. B. Restoration
The railway section from Kinathukadavu to Pollachi should be shifted from the existing Palakkad division to Salem division immediately.
2. Railway Station.
A. Coimbatore railway station should be upgraded and replaced at a cost of at least Rs 1,000 crore with all facilities such as airport.
B. Peelamedu, Singanallur and Irugur railway stations should be upgraded with additional floors, better road facilities and upgradation.
C. As per the procedure in the Railways for renaming railway stations within major cities, Irugur railway station should be renamed as Coimbatore East and Podanur should be renamed as Coimbatore South.
D. In view of the growing Coimbatore, a new Tidel Park, Airport, Ondipudur, Singanallur, Nanjundapuram, Sundarapuram SIDCO Halt Station should be developed.
E. Mettupalayam, Coimbatore North and South (Podanur) terminal station (terminal) to be converted. It is to be noted that the railway establishment already has the required space for these.
F. Periyanaickenpalayam between Coimbatore and Mettupalayam should be converted into a crossing station.
G. Chettipalayam, Urumandampalayam, Narasimhanaickenpalayam and Kovilpalayam railway stations should be reopened immediately.
3. Train service
A. The train from Coimbatore to Rameswaram, Thoothukudi, Madurai, Sengottai and Dindigul should be restarted.
B. Mostly used by the passengers from Coimbatore
Coimbatore - Bengaluru night time train,
Coimbatore - Egmore Chennai (via Tambaram),
Coimbatore - Karaikal/ Nagapattinam (for delta districts),
The Coimbatore-Tiruchendur train service has been a long-standing demand of the devotees.
A new daily train from Coimbatore to Thiruvananthapuram (via Ernakulam) should be introduced immediately.
C. Rerouting should be done from Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam via Amrita Express, Palaruvi Express etc. via Coimbatore.
D. Coimbatore - Mettupalayam MEMU should be extended upto Coimbatore South (Podanur) at least thrice a day.
E. Coimbatore Circular Train should be made to function via Coimbatore, Coimbatore North, Peelamedu, Singanallur, Coimbatore East (Irugur) and Coimbatore South (Podanur).
F. Ernakulam-SMVT Bangalore train, Kochuveli-Hubli train, Tatanagar to Ernakulam train, to be diverted via Coimbatore.
4. Stoppage of trains
A. The following trains should stop at Coimbatore South (Podanur) Railway Station.
a. Coimbatore - Mangalore
b. Ernakulam - Bangalore
c. Ernakulam - Karaikal.
B. The following trains should stop at Vadakovai.
a. Coimbatore Express, UDAY, JAN Shatabdi, Chennai Intercity Express
b. All trains ending in Coimbatore.
C. MEMU, unreserved express trains should stop at Peelamedu railway station.
D. MEMU, unreserved express trains should stop at Coimbatore East (Irugur) railway station.
a. Coimbatore Express
b. All trains ending in Coimbatore.
5. Railway Infrastructure
A. Workshop expansion and facilities such as Pit Line and Stabling Line should be established at Coimbatore South (Podanur), Coimbatore East (Irugur), and Nallampalayam.
B. Railways adopted the 'electronic interlocking' system to reap the benefits of digital and modern technologies in train operation and to improve safety. A fully automatic block signaling (ABS) section should be implemented in Coimbatore division, which will increase the line capacity to run more train services.
C. Priority should be given to increase the speed from Coimbatore to Jolarpettai to 130 kmph. It should be a priority to upgrade all the infrastructure required for train operations, This includes complete replacement of rails weighing 52 kg with 60 kg each; Strengthening of bridges; removal of curves; barrier walls to prevent trespassing of lanes; Improving signaling and improving overhead line infrastructure by providing automatic signaling/double-distance signaling.
D. Coimbatore East (Irugur) railway junction should be developed as a freight transportation hub that will facilitate metals, food and cement wagons.
E. Jolarpettai - Coimbatore 282 km (3rd and 4th railway lines), Coimbatore - Shoranur (3rd and 4th railway lines) final survey work should be completed at the earliest. Southern Railway officials should urge the Railway Board to implement the project at the earliest.
F. The only permanent solution to prevent wild elephants from getting hit by trains on the F. Walayar - Kanchicode railway line is the elevated railway line for the entire length, which now has two power lines for a length of 48.26 km and 52.56 km. Remove the 24 kms track passing through the forest and set up the elevated double railway line along with the 16 kms railway line on the outskirts of the forest.
6. Food quality should be improved.
The resolutions will thus be passed unanimously and sent to the Railways.