Kerala - Kollam   

Heritage status likely for Punalur-Shencotta rail line

Ignatius Pereira

The move will boost the tourism potential of Thenmala and its surrounding areas

PHOTO CAPTION: The century-old 13-arch railway flyover on the Punalur-Shencotta section

KOLLAM: Even as there is clamour for the early completion of gauge conversion of the metre gauge railway line connecting Shencotta in Tamil Nadu to Kollam via Punalur, there are indications that a section of the line, which passes through the forest area of the Western Ghats, will be preserved as heritage property.

A senior official of the Southern Railway, who does not wish to be quoted, told The Hindu that though things were still in a nascent stage, the chances were that the metre-gauge section, which is over a century old, between Punalur and Shencotta would not be converted into a broad-gauge line. "In all probability, it will be preserved as a heritage property," he said.

Only the Punalur-Kollam section of the line has been cleared for gauge conversion and work in this connection is being carried out, he said."It has not been taken up for clearance so far." This was confirmed by the Railway authorities at Kollam.

Work shelved

The heritage aspect was not on the agenda when the work was initially mooted. But an ad hoc survey pointed out that gauge conversion of the Punalur-Shencotta section was difficult. "In fact, it is not practical" owing to various reasons. So, the move for work on this section was shelved a few years ago.

The Railways conducted two surveys to open another railway line to connect Kollam to Shencotta. One of this was a line proposed to run along National Highway 208 connecting Kollam to Thirumangalam via Shencotta. The other proposal was for a line from Shencotta to Aryankavu, Mampazhathara and Vellimala to touch Edamon and, from there, to Punalur, via the existing route.

The 50-km Punalur-Shencotta line touches Edamon, Ottakal, Thenmala, Kazhuthurutty, Edapalayam, Aryankavu and Bhagawatheepuram railway stations.

Engineering marvel

The forest section starts from Ottakal and ends a few kilometres after Aryankavu. There are several tunnels and some flyovers, constructed over a 100 years ago, between the two stations. The 13-arch flyover between Thenmala and Aryankavu is an engineering marvel and a tourist attraction.

G. Thomaskutty, secretary, Thenmala Tourism Development Cooperative Society, said that maintaining the line as a heritage property would boost the tourism potential of Thenmala and its surrounding areas. "It is an antique railway line worth travelling."

He said several tourists come to Thenmala by train to experience the thrill of travelling through the forests, tunnels and flyovers.

Thenmala is an eco-tourism attraction and the Palaruvi waterfalls is located nearby. A broad-gauge link between Shencotta and Punalur is essential in developing the area, Mr. Thomaskutty said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Heritage status likely for Punalur-Shencotta rail line
CI attacked during raid on spirit den still in critical state
Over 200 loads of sand seized by Revenue team
`Latin Catholics will be worst hit by Act'

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu