Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

Railway's money-spinner, but growth derailed

V.S. Palaniappan

The demand for night services to southern districts is high

TOO MANY FOR TOO LITTLE: Inadequate number of trains leaves huge crowds making a beeline for available ones. A scene at the Coimbatore Railway Junction.- PHOTO: S. SIVA SARAVANAN

Coimbatore: It is a classic example of getting all the ingredients right but the cook spoiling the brew.

Coimbatore contributes Rs. 74 crores per annum to Southern Railway's kitty, it is near to industrial town Tirupur and tourist spot Udhagamandalam but when it comes to connectivity the signal is red.

This has been the main grouse of rail users here, says Vaidiyanathakrishnan, secretary of the Coimbatore Railway Passenger Association.

Coimbatore accounts for a large number of engineering and foundry units and textile mills besides being a healthcare and education destination. The other major reason for burgeoning traffic is the proximity to Tirupur, which accounts for the country's highest hosiery business and exports. Another factor is the increase in tourists visiting Coimbatore on their way to Udhagamandalam.

The request for an overnight direct train service to Thiruvananthapuram to cater to the large number of Keralites settled here is yet to materialise. They largely depend on the 20-odd private omni bus service providers who charge a hefty amount for various destinations in Kerala.

The request to extend the Palakkad - Thiruvananthapuram Amrita Express up to Coimbatore or for adding more coaches from Coimbatore to Palakkad has not been considered yet, Mr. Vaidyanathakrishnan adds.

The migrant workforce from the Southern districts too has to bank on omni bus services because of the non-availability of overnight train service to these areas. The railways may be waiting for the gauge conversion of the Coimbatore - Dindigul section to introduce the service, says N.V. Nagasubramanian, the association president. Congestion on the Coimbatore - Erode section is preventing introduction of the service on this route.

The existing day service is a fast passenger between Coimbatore - Nagercoil via Karur and Tiruchi. Since most people prefer night journey, the entire traffic depends on omni bus services.

There is only one direct train to Bangalore. The train from Kanyakumari that passes through Coimbatore at night is always crowded.

The two night trains to Chennai are always packed to capacity and a number of passengers remains waitlisted. Citing congestion, the railways express its inability to introduce new services towards Chennai. The request for at least bi-weekly service to Tirupati is yet to be met on grounds of a congested route.

(Send your responses to wscbe@thehindu.co.in marked as `Face of Coimbatore')

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