Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi   

Move to terminate train service irks commuters

TIRUCHI: It has always been complaints' galore from the travelling public of the delta districts about the inadequacy in the long distance train services in various sections. The reasons are manifold .

Getting reservation in the long distance trains is a back breaking exercise even during the off-season period. The situation turns worse during the festival seasons and summer holidays. The tickets in all the long distance trains are sold out with in no time on the day of the commencement of advance reservation during the peak season, leaving a large number of people disappointed. Though Railways operate special trains during the festival and holiday seasons, but they too are inadequate given the rising number of travelling public. And the people have to shell out exorbitant fares with less comfort for reaching their destinations by omni buses. The Tiruchi – Bangalore - Mysore is one of the well sought after sections.

But the train services in this section are far too inadequate right now. At present, the Mayiladuthurai – Mysore and Tiruchi – Bangalore special train are the services connecting Tiruchi with Bangalore. The Mayiladuthurai – Mysore express remains jam-packed throughout the year prompting several passengers to travel by buses to and from Bangalore by spending more money especially in omni buses. The State Express Transport Corporation and the Karnataka State Transport Corporation have been operating quite a number of buses in the Tiruchi – Bangalore section every day and all of them always overflow with passengers.

Taking into consideration the growing traffic and continuous plea from different organisations, the Railways introduced a summer special from Tiruchi to Bangalore in March to June.

Subsequently, it was extended for few more months following good patronage. This special train, which is operated via Ariyalur, Vriddhachalam and Salem, departs from Tiruchi at 6.45 p.m. and reaches Bangalore at 5 a.m. the next day. In the return direction, the train leaves Bangalore at 10.15 p.m. and arrives here at 8.30 a.m. The train has been very useful for the people of delta districts to reach Salem, another major city, and back, as this is only the second train after the Mayiladuthurai – Mysore Express connecting both cities.

The Railway authorities last month announced the extension of this train by one more month till October 12. At a time when people were expecting an announcement on regularising or extending its operation, the Railways move to extend its operation by just three days from October 13 to 15 has come in as a rude shock to the travellers especially those in Tiruchi. This only indicates that this temporary service will be terminated from October 16. The decision has shocked all sections of society. A cross section of the Tiruchiites expressed strong sentiment that this train should be regularised with immediate effect.

M. Lourduraj, general secretary, Train Travellers' Welfare Association, said that his association had recently adopted a resolution seeking the regularisation of this train. The move to terminate this train is totally unjustified and will once again put people at the mercy of the private bus operators, says Sardar Ahmed, an official with a private concern.

The Railways should take steps to operate a couple of additional train services to Bangalore from here, including a day time super fast express, Mr. Ahmed added.

M. Ramachandiran Babu, a usinessman, and R. Hari Hara Sudhakar, software engineer, who frequently travel to Bangalore by this train, said that the introduction of this service proved a boon to the Tiruchiites and its sudden termination without any valid reason will badly hit youths employed in software concerns.

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