Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

`Express fares are beyond low-income group'

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI, SEPT. 19. Various organisations have urged the Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad, to operate a fast passenger train between Madurai and Chennai Egmore.

In a memorandum submitted to the Minister, the Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, S. Rethinavelu, said the express train fares were not affordable to the low-income group. A daytime fast passenger train to Chennai Egmore would have a good patronage, since the fare would be half the charge of the superfast express trains.

A passenger train, he said, would also facilitate loading/unloading in wayside stations.

He also demanded that the reconstruction of the Ellis Nagar road overbridge and the pending projects such as doubling of the broad-gauge line between Madurai and Dindigul and Madurai-Rameswaram gauge conversion works be expedited. The Hydebarad-Chennai Express should be extended up to Madurai.

In its representation, the Madura Railway Passengers' Association demanded a fast passenger train between Madurai and Chennai Egmore, to cater to the needs of passengers who could not afford to travel by the superfast trains. Passenger traffic between Chennai Egmore and Nagercoil would get a boost only when the Madurai-Dindigul broad-gauge double line project was implemented.

Doubling of

Madurai-Dindigul line

The Dindigul MP, N.S.V. Chithan, also demanded the early completion of the Madurai-Dindigul double line project. Since the cost was only Rs. 96 crores, he said, the Minister should make a one-time allocation to expedite the work.

Mr. Chithan said the Dindigul-Sabarimalai, Madurai-Kottayam and Dindigul-Coimbatore broad-gauge line projects should be implemented at the earliest.

`Run a train to Thiruvananthapuram'

A delegation of the Madurai District Tiny and Small Scale Industries Association (MADITSSIA), led by its secretary, N. Somasundaram, met Mr. Lalu Prasad and sought a day train between Madurai and Thiruvananthapuram. The Koodal Nagar station should be developed, as it would serve as a convenient boarding/alighting station for passengers in the northern parts of the city.

Plea for

Tuticorin line

Representatives of the Joint Action Committee of Voluntary Organisations met the Minister and sought a line between Madurai and Tuticorin, through Aruppukottai and Ettayapuram.

The secretary, S.V. Pathy, also sought broad-gauge lines between Madurai and Bodi, Madurai and Coimbatore and Manamadurai and Virudhunagar.

As the Sethusamuidram project was about to be implemented, the Yagappa Nagar Residents' Welfare Association said, Mr. Lalu Prasad should consider a broad-gauge line connecting Kanyakumari with Tuticorin, along the coast.

The Tamil Nadu Consumer Protection Centre president, S. Logaguru, sought a suburban train service in the Dindigul-Madurai-Virudhunagar section.

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