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Railway Passengers Association Expresses Disappointment Over Mayiladuthurai-Coimbatore Train Service Proposal

SimpliCity News Team File Photo · 26 Sept 2024

Coimbatore: The Railway Passengers Welfare Association (WARP-CPPD) has expressed deep disappointment over Southern Railway's recent decision to conduct a feasibility study for a Mayiladuthurai-Palakkad train route instead of the long-demanded Mayiladuthurai-Coimbatore unreserved train service.

For the past two years, various stakeholders, including public representatives and passenger associations, have been requesting an unreserved train service from Coimbatore to Mayiladuthurai via Kinathukadavu, Pollachi, Udumalpet, Palani, Dindigul, and Kumbakonam. This service was expected to benefit students from the delta region studying in Coimbatore, devotees traveling from Coimbatore to Kumbakonam, and other commuters seeking affordable transportation.

The proposal for a Mayiladuthurai-Palakkad route, which bypasses Coimbatore and terminates at Pollachi before heading to Palakkad, has come as a shock to many. WARP-CPPD stated that this decision contradicts the numerous requests made by various quarters, including MLAs Vanathi Srinivasan (Coimbatore South), Damodaran (Kinathukadavu), and Pollachi Jayaraman (Pollachi).

Sateesh, Joint Secretary of RAAC, expressed his disappointment, saying, "We have been demanding a low-cost, unreserved train service from Mayiladuthurai to Coimbatore for two years. Even people from delta districts have been proposing this service. The order to conduct a feasibility study for the Mayiladuthurai-Palakkad route is very unfortunate." He added that most trains not reaching Coimbatore, a major city, and instead turning towards Palakkad from Pollachi, causes great inconvenience to people traveling to Coimbatore.

Mohan Kumar, Secretary of WARP-CPPD, stated that the decision to extend the service to Palakkad instead of Coimbatore has greatly disappointed the public, especially considering the continuous requests from Coimbatore. He urged the railway administration to reconsider this order and bring the train service to Coimbatore.

The association emphasized that not everyone can afford to book reserved tickets and that the train service should cater to all sections of society. They criticized Southern Railway's decision as being contrary to the needs and wishes of the local population and called for an immediate review of the proposal.

railway train service Coimbatore Mayiladuthurai Palakkad passenger association Southern Railway

Railway Passengers Association Expresses Disappointment Over Mayiladuthurai-Coimbatore Train Service Proposal

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