Train to Tambaram will benefit region, say railway users

TNN | Mar 22, 2020, 04.28 AM IST

Coimbatore: Several rail passengers associations in the Pollachi to Udumalpet belt are demanding an overnight train from Mettupalayam till Tambaram.

Representatives of the associations said they had wrote to Coimbatore MP P R Natarajan and Southern Railway general manager demanding a train from Mettupalayam or Coimbatore to Tambaram or Chennai. “We want more rail connectivity between Coimbatore and the delta regions via Pollachi and Dindigul,” said secretary of the Welfare Association of Rail Passengers in Pollachi Mohan Kumar, who is also a businessman.

“Many Udumalpet industries and farmers buy banana leaves and betel nuts and leaves from the delta region and vegetable traders can easily travel between Mettupalayam and Dindigul for buying and selling vegetables,” he said.

Such a train will fill a large void in the tourism and pilgrimage sector, said Kumar. “This train should pass through Palani and Kumbakonam, both of which are popular destinations for pilgrims and start and end at Mettupalayam, giving travellers in delta region easy connectivity to NMR and Ooty,” said Mohan Kumar.

President of the Thanjavur District Rail Users Association P K T Shanmugam agreed. “Every day, at least six government buses operate between Palani and Chidambaram. As many buses operate between Palani and Mayiladuthai, and Thanjavur. A special fare train will help the passengers because it is more convenient. Moreover, the railway will earn more revenue,” he said.