Railways neglecting the needs of Coimbatore ?!
Peeved at Southern Railway's reasoning of "lack of coaches" for non-introduction or extension of trains in Tamil Nadu, the Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (PDK) is launching a 'begging campaign' here "to raise funds" for the entity. "Protesting the Railway's action, particularly delay in introduction of Coimbatore-Nagercoil night train, the party had decided to 'go to the people with begging bowl' from July 10 near the city railway station," party General Secretary K Ramakrishnan said.Case:1
The Coimbatoreans got a night train to Nagercoil, covering southern districts of Tamil Nadu, from July 1 after exerting pressure on the ministry, he said adding the regular services were yet to start as Railways claimed that "there was no adequate coaches". The railway has also stopped a train on the route via Pollachi, which had come as a blow to thousands of workers in Coimbatore and Tirupur, he said.
"The Southern Railways is promoting only Kerala as far as trains are concerned, neglecting the needs of Tamil Nadu. By delaying and stopping these trains and also introducing more to Kerala side, it wants to stop Tamil people getting employed in Tirupur, so that more job-seekers from Kerala could be benefited," he alleged.
Case:2
Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TPDK) General Secretary K. Ramakrishnan has flayed the Southern Railway authorities for making a "subtle" attempt to extend the Bangalore-Coimbatore Intercity Express up to Ernakulam.
Mr Ramakrishnan said the extension of this train would affect passengers bound for Bangalore from Coimbatore region especially at a time when traffic was growing in this section. He recalled the long-pending demand for overnight train connectivity between Coimbatore and Bangalore. To press for introduction of a night train and to stop the extension of the day train to Ernakulam, the TPDK had an agitation in front of the railway station on June 1.
Case:3
The Chennai Egmore-Coimbatore Express (train number 6607/6608) was extended to Mangalore from January 3.
With the extension of the train, the passengers of the Malabar region will have a direct train with reserved sleeper and air-conditioned accommodation from Mangalore to Chennai. The train will have more capacity than the existing Link Express. The entire stretch served by the Link Express with nine general second-class coaches will now be served by 10 sleeper-class coaches, six general second-class coaches and also three air-conditioned coaches.
With the extension of the train, the passengers of the Malabar region will have a direct train with reserved sleeper and air-conditioned accommodation from Mangalore to Chennai. The train will have more capacity than the existing Link Express. The entire stretch served by the Link Express with nine general second-class coaches will now be served by 10 sleeper-class coaches, six general second-class coaches and also three air-conditioned coaches.
In those cases Non of the Tamil Nadu MPs/MLAs had taken up the issue, to ensure that the status quo of running the Trains between Bangalore, Chennai and Coimbatore is maintained.
