The Hindu : Front Page : Kumbakonam-Thanjavur train from today

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Friday, Sep 23, 2005

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Kumbakonam-Thanjavur train from today

G. Srinivasan

`New service far from meeting many important demands'

THANJAVUR: A passenger train between Kumbakonam and Thanjavur will be flagged off by the Union Minister of State for Railways, R.Velu, from Kumbakonam at 9.00 a.m on Friday.

While the people of Kumbakonam welcome the introduction of the new train, they feel that it is far from meeting their many demands. "In fact, the introduction of this train appears like an eye wash as several other important demands remain unfulfilled," said V. Satyanarayana, co-ordinator, All Traders Association, Kumbakonam.

According to him and A. Giri, vice-president, Railway Users' Committee, an express train from Kumbakonam to Chennai via Thanjavur and Tiruchi was announced in the Railway Budget 2004. This train should have been introduced on July 1, 2004, itself as per Southern Railway timetable. "Now July 1, 2005 has also gone. But the announced train is yet to be introduced," Mr. Satyanarayana said.

After the gauge conversion between Thanjavur and Kumbakonam for Mahamaham festival held in March 2004, only two trains are running from Kumbakonam.

One is the Rockfort Express, extended to Kumbakonam from Thanjavur, which provides one unreserved and one reserved compartment alone for Kumbakonam passengers and the other Nellai Express, which starts at 11 a.m. "But for these two trains, there are no long distance trains from Kumbakonam, which is a pilgrim and trade centre. Even if not an express, a passenger train from Kumbakonam to Chennai is a dire necessity, as many traders travel to Chennai from Kumbakonam."

Announcements were made that the Coimbatore Jan Shatabdi and Mysore Express trains will be extended from Thanjavur to Kumbakonam in this budget. But they are yet to be implemented. After Mayiladuthurai-Kumbakonam gauge conversion was taken up six months back, two trains, Cholan Express to Chennai and Tambaram Express, which catered to the needs of Kumbakonam passengers, were cancelled.

The people of Thanjavur are also in need of more trains to Chennai. According to Padmanabhan of Thanjavur Chamber of Industries and Commerce, only one train, Rockfort Express, is now running from Thanjavur to Chennai.

Consumers of Thanjavur also demand extension of Pallavan Express from Tiruchi to Thanjavur so that day time travellers will be benefited.

They also suggest that Kumbakonam-Thanjavur passenger can be extended upto Tiruchi and the Tiruchi-Thanjavur passenger train, which reaches Thanjavur at 10.30 a.m. can be extended up to Kumbakonam.

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