Railways continue to neglet coimbatore !!
A release from S. Vaidyanathakrishnan, secretray of the association said that such a move if materialises will go against the interests of Tamil Nadu and reduce the status of Southern Railways.Mr. Vaidyanathakrishnan said the functioning of Nilgiris Mountain Railway was now affected because of poor track maintenance and frequent engine failures.He said funds should be allocated to maintain the heritage status of the railway system.Coimbatore, the largest revenue earner next to Chennai in Southern Railway continues to remain neglected. Coimbatore, which was under the Podanur railway district was merged with the newly-formed Olavakkod Division (now Palghat Division). Divisional Headquarters was located on Palakkad despite the availability of infrastructure at Podanur.
Mr. Vaidyanathakrishnan said that Coimbatore had been omitted from the list of model stations announced in the recent Railway Budget.The new railway division at Salem too is neglected. Coimbatore Junction lacks space, terminal facilities and coach maintenance.No new trains were being introduced and even the existing trains were being extended to destinations in Kerala.
Mr. Vaidyanathakrishnan wanted to know why the Thiruvananthapuram – Palakkad Amritha Express was not being extended up to Coimbatore. The demand to introduce night trains to Chennai and Coimbatore is yet to be fulfilled.The Podanur Station should be developed into a terminus by making use of the land available, he said. The railways should reclaim the unused land which were being encroached upon.North Coimbatore railway station should be developed into a satellite station by getting land from Food Corporation of India. Land of NTC should be procured to extend the yard facilities.
The doubling work between Coimbatore and Irugur should be expedited.More funds should be provided to expedite the gauge conversion work between Coimbatore and Dindigul.The other demands included introduction of a circular railway along the peripheral areas of Coimbatore and running of more local trains between Coimbatore – Mettuppalayam and Coimbatore – Erode and including Coimbatore in the list of proposed model stations.
