Tamil Nadu - Tuticorin   

Fast against move to shift railway station

Staff Reporter

It will cause inconvenience to poor people: former Minister

MAINTAIN STATUS QUO: AIADMK cadres observing a fast in Tuticorin on Wednesday. — Photo: N. Rajesh

Tuticorin: Cadres of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) observed a fast here on Wednesday in protest against the reported move to shift the railway station here to Milavittan.

N. Thalavai Sundaram, former Health Minister, said shifting of the railway station would cause financial burden to the middle class people and labourers in the society.

They would be forced to pay hefty charges to hire autorickshaws to reach the town from Milavittan, or to go Milavittan since the two places are not connected well by public transport services.

"Hence, it's an unwise proposal to shift the station from town on the pretext of easing traffic jam during the closure of three railway gates," he added.

The authorities concerned should take steps to expedite construction of bridges over the three railway crossings.

Mr. Sundaram expressed surprise over the decision of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam cadres to lead a campaign for shifting the station to Milavittan, which was about seven kilometres away.

"It should be recalled that the then Transport Minister K. Ponmudi of the DMK had replied to a question raised by the Tuticorin MLA N. Periyasamy on the floor of the Legislative Assembly in 2000 that the station would not be shifted," he said.

Anitha Radhakrishnan, former Minister, challenged the Municipal Chairperson, R. Kasturi Thangam (DMK), to seek re-election on the railway station issue.

Former Minister Jennifer Chandran, MLAs L. Radhakrishnan and P. Chinnappan, and Chairman of District Panchayat N. Chinnadurai spoke.

In all, about 500 cadres took part in the agitation.

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

Stories in this Section

Plan to promote manufacture of terracotta products among artisans
Fast against move to shift railway station
66 vehicles seized

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu