A petition has been submitted to the railways department to resume the train operations between Pollachi and Coimbatore that were stopped due to the pandemic in March 2020.
Pollachi: A petition has been submitted to the railways department requesting to resume the train operations between Pollachi and Coimbatore. Due to the covid-19 pandemic, a section of trains were non-operational in this sector.
The Pollachi MP Shanmuga Sundaram has demanded that the train between Pollachi and Coimbatore, Mettupalayam to Coimbatore MEMU trains to Pollachi through Kinathukadavu and others be resumed as in the absence of the train, many working people, students and the public find commuting difficult. The operation of these trains reportedly was halted in March 2020 after which there was the outbreak of the pandemic. It has not been resumed since then, although schools, colleges, offices are operational after the big break.
He further requested that direct trains between Pollachi and Chennai be introduced, Restoration of trains on broad gauge conversion of Pollachi, the infrastructure at the Pollachi junction has to undergo maintenance. The petition submitted by the MP read,
“I request the railway authorities to restore all the 12 trains which were running before the gauge conversion from meter gauge to broad gauge. It is a great injustice to the people of my constituency for not restoring the existing trains Which were running previously.”
“Improvement in train connectivity will be the major catalyst for faster economic growth — and improved livelihood of public. Mettupalayam / Coimbatore — Kinathukadavu — Pollachi — Dindigul broad gauge section is the shortest route (73 KMs_ shorter compared to Coimbatore — Erode — Karur — Dindigul route) which connects the important economic / educational / agricultural hubs such as Coimbatore, Pollachi, Udumalai, Oddanchatram, Dindigul, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Nagercoil, etc and tourist / pilgrim destinations such as Ooty (Mettupalayam), Marudamalai Murugan temple, Valparai, Munnar, Palani Murugan temple, Kodaikanal, Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple, Coutrallam falls, Tiruvallur statue and Vivekanandar Rock memorial in Kanniyakumari, etc.
1) Pollachi —- Coimbatore - Pollachi passenger trains - Coimbatore — Palani — Coimbatore passenger train
Train services have been resumed in almost all the sections in Southern Railway. As of now, no trains are running between Pollachi and Coimbatore (via. Kinathukadavu) since March 2020 till date. Thousands of government employees, private employees, traders, college and school students, general public were daily using the train services between Pollachi and Coimbatore before the Covid-19 pandemic.
So, we kindly request the railways to immediately restart the train services (Pollachi — Coimbatore - Pollachi passenger trains — 2 trips daily, Coimbatore — Palani — Coimbatore passenger train) which were operated till March 2020 in Pollachi — Podanur (Coimbatore) section. We also request the railways to resume the train service to Tiruchendur which was operated before covid-19 pandemic through Pollachi, Udumalaipettai, Palani, Madurai.
2) Mettupalayam to Coimbatore MEMU trains to Pollachi via Kinathukadavu.
Since the Pollachi — Podanur railway electrification is completed, we would urge the railways to extend all the Mettupalayam to Coimbatore MEMU trains to Pollachi via. Kinathukadavu. Bridge works are happening in multiple locations between Pollachi — Coimbatore and Coimbatore — Mettupalayam. So, the road travel is very tiresome and time consuming. The general public now prefers safe, faster and convenient MEMU trains to be operated between Pollachi and Mettupalayam.
3) 7 Pair of train extension to Pollachi Junction
We request for the below mentioned 7 pair of trains to be extended to Pollachi Junction as the railway electrification works are now completed in Podanur (Coimbatore) — Pollachi section and the already congested Coimbatore Junction will be freed for operating more originating trains.
Coimbatore to Mannargudi Chemmozhi Express (Train No : 16615 & 16616).
Coimbatore to Mayiladuthurai Jan Shatabdi Express (Train No : 12083 & 12084).
Coimbatore to Lokmanya Tilak (Mumbai) Kurla Express (Train No : 11013 & 11014).
Coimbatore to H Nizamuddin (Delhi) Kongu Express (Train No : 12647)
Coimbatore to Rajkot Express (Train No : 16613 & 16614).
Coimbatore to Tirupati Express (Train No : 22615 & 22616).
Coimbatore to Bangalore Uday Express (Train No; 22665 & 22666).
These train extensions to Pollachi will help the people of Coimbatore South, Kinathukadavu, Pollachi, Anaimalai and Valparai taluks in reaching various parts of the Country and vice versa. If there are any issues, challenges in primary or secondary maintenance of the above-mentioned trains at Pollachi junction, then the train rakes can be shuttled as a passenger train to Coimbatore for necessary maintenance and brought back to Pollachi junction for operation.
Also, we would request the Railways to divert the Tirunelveli — Dadar — Tirunelveli Express train (Train Nos : 22629 and 22630) in Dindigul — Palani — Pollachi section, so that the places such as Oddanchatram, Palani, Udumalaipettai, Pollachi get direct train connectivity to North Kerala, Coastal Karnataka, Goa, Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra.
4) Restoration of trains on Broad gauge conversion of Pollachi
Podanur (Coimbatore) section was completed in 2017. During Meter gauge period, trains such as Coimbatore to Rameswaram express and passenger, Coimbatore to Thoothukudi Fast passenger, Coimbatore to Madurai Intercity express, Coimbatore to Kollam train, Coimbatore to Dindigul passenger trains were operated via. Kinathukadavu, Pollachi, Palani. None of the above-mentioned trains were restored or re-operated for the benefit of the general public.
It's the responsibility of railways to restore all the above-mentioned trains now in the Coimbatore — Kinathukadavu — Pollachi — Dindigul broad gauge section which will connect the Western Tamil Nadu with South Tamil Nadu destinations in the shortest route via. Pollachi.
We request you to kindly request the railways to immediately re-operate all the above-mentioned trains from Coimbatore or Mettupalayam. Delay in restoring the train services for more than 4-years is significantly impacting the general public, labourers, traders, pilgrims, tourists, businessmen due to the lack of cheap, convenient train connectivity in the shortest route via. Pollachi.
As a result, the economy of totally 12 Western and Southern districts such as Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Dindigul, Sivagangai, Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Theni, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar, Nagercoil were significantly impacted due to the delay in restoring train services between Coimbatore and South Tamil Nadu via. Pollachi.
5) Direct Express train from Pollachi to Chennai
There is no direct train operated through Kinathukadavu to the state capital ‘Chennai’. Kinathukadavu is a taluk headquarters and is one of the fastest developing regions due to the large presence of foundries, machine manufacturing and coir companies. Karpagam Medical College, Amrita Agriculture College and lots of engineering, arts and science colleges are present in and around Kinathukadavu. Ponmailai Velayuthusamy and Muthumalai Murugan hill temples are the famous temples located in Kinathukadavu region.
Pollachi is the second largest city in Coimbatore district. It is one of the fastest developing regions due to its presence of coir industries, agri-based industries. At present, there is no any direct train connectivity from Pollachi to Chennai Central in the shortest rail route via. Coimbatore, Salem, Katpadi. Also the Palakkad — Chennai Central express which is operated via. Pollachi is travelling in a route with inconvenient timings for the passengers of Pollachi region So, the railways is requested to operate a daily overnight express train from Pollachi to Chennai Central via. Kinathukadavu, Coimbatore, Salem, Katpadi (or) one of the overnight express trains operated between Coimbatore and Chennai can be extended to Pollachi with a stoppage at Kinathukadavu.
If operated, this direct train between Pollachi and Chennai will help the government and private sector employees, tourists, traders, businessmen, Software (IT) employees, pilgrims, general public from Pollachi, Anaimalai, Valparai, Kinathukadavu regions to reach the state capital ‘Chennai’ conveniently. Also, this train will help the pilgrims and tourists who head towards Valparai hill station, Anaimalai Tiger Reserve, Aliyar dam and park, Monkey falls & Anaimalai Lord Maasani Amman temple.
6) Infrastructure Maintenance at Pollachi Junction
Pollachi Junction have lost the below mentioned facilities under Palakkad division which existed in Meter Gauge period. We urge the below mentioned facilities to be restored st the earliest.
a) Pit lines / Maintenance facilities for trains.
It must be noted that the pit lines facilities are now planned in Palakkad Town railway station.
b) SE-Permanent Way office shifted from Pollachi to Kollengode.
c) Locomotive and coach maintenance shed was removed from Pollachi Junction
d) Train watering facilities were not brought back to Pollachi junction after gauge conversion
e) Direct water pipeline from Aliyar River (Ambarampalayam) to Pollachi junction was not restored.
f) Nearly 10 trains (Including Coimbatore - Rameswaram express / passengers, Coimbatore - Madurai Intercity Express, Coimbatore - Thoothukudi Fast passenger, Coimbatore - Kollam trains) were not re-operated after broad gauge conversion of Podanur / Palakkad - Pollachi — Dindigul section.
7) Merger of Meenatchipuram — Pollachi — Kinathukadavu to Madurai Division
No step taken for reopening Kovilpalayam Railway Station in Pollachi to Podanur section. It may be noted that there are 6 railway stations (Anaimalai road, Meenatchipuram, Muthalamada, Kollengode, Vadakanikapuram, Pudunagaram) between Pollachi Junction and Palakkad Town. But there is only one railway station Kinathukadavu) between Pollachi Junction and Podanur Junction.
We urge the above-mentioned facilities to be restored by the railways and kindly request yourselves for transferring the Meenatchipuram (Inclusive) - Pollachi (Inclusive) - Kinathukadavu (Inclusive) section from Palakkad railway division to Madurai or Salem railway division as the Palakkad division is treating Pollachi railway section in a step-motherly manner. We would also request the railways to setup Railway train ticket reservation (PRS Passenger Reservation System) centres at Kinathukadavu Railway station and Valparai.
Also, the PRS timings needs to extended till 8 PM at Pollachi Junction Railway station. | would also request the railways to speed up the completion of the railway portion of Four Lane ROB at Pollachi Town constructed across Pollachi-Kinathukadavu railway line. We also request you to reopen the Chettipalayam railway station (functional during Metre gauge period) between Kinathukadavu and Podanur stations.
8. Infrastructure facilities at Podanur Junction
Podanur railway station is located very near to the upcoming Vellalore Integrated bus stand. Podanur Junction is one of the important railway junctions in Southern Railway. Due to space constraints in Coimbatore Junction, there were lot of practical issues in operating more originating trains. Due to the above-mentioned reasons, we kindly urge the railways to improve the railway infrastructure at the Podanur Junction, so that Podanur will act as a second train terminal to Coimbatore city.
9) Setting up an inland container depot at Thippampatti near Pollachi.
In the year 2020, Pollachi was declared by the union government as ‘Town of Export Excellence’ for Coir and Coir products. The regional office of Coir Board is located at Pollachi. Hundreds of Coir Units spread across the Pollachi and Udumala surroundings providing employment to lakhs of people directly and indirectly. Also, these coir units help in gaining the all-important foreign exchange for our country by exporting coir products, which helps the economy of Pollachi region and our country.
The coir units totally depend on the road transport for their movement of coir goods to the ports. Recently, central government entity V.O Chidambaram Tuticorin Port Trust in its press release (Dated: 11.10.2021) has mentioned that the manufacturing hubs are located mainly in the secondary hinterlands such as Pollachi, Coimbatore, Tiruppur etc and the Port Press release also says that it has tentatively identified Coimbatore, Madurai and Tuticorin as the three potential locations for establishing the Multimodal Logistics Park in an area of about 100-acres.
So, we request the railways to tap the huge goods traffic originating from Pollachi and Udumalai regions by setting up an inland container depot at Thippampatti (located between Pollachi Gomangalam stations in Madurai division) as the railways has a huge parcel of land in that location and it is located very close to the Pollachi to Dindigul National highway (Old numbering: NH-209). Also, this location has very good road connectivity to the nearby manufacturing hubs such as Coimbatore and Tiruppur.
If the Podanur (Coimbatore) - Kinathukadavu - Pollachi — Palani — Dindigul section is well utilized by railways with sufficient passenger and express and goods services, then the railways will benefit a lot in terms of passenger and goods and parcel revenue as it connects Coimbatore, Ooty (Mettupalayam), Pollachi, Udumalaipettai regions with entire South Tamil Nadu (Including port connectivity to Thoothukudi) in the shortest route.