Tamil Nadu - Nagapattinam   

Madurai-Tirupathi Express mere tokenism: BJP

NAGAPATTINAM: The introduction of the Madurai-Tirupathi Express has failed to evoke positive response in the wake of absence of stoppage points along several significant pilgrim centres along the train route.

Terming the introduction of the Express as tokenism, the Bharatiya Janata Party has called for restoration of stoppage points earlier functional under the Meenakshi Express.

In a representation here, K. Rajendran, National Council Member, and State-in-charge for the party's legal cell, has criticised the service as ‘dysfunctional' with no major stations marked for halt of the train.

The Madurai-Tirupathi Express was introduced recently as a bi-weekly train, to pass through Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Mayiladuthurai, Chidambaram, Villupuram, Thirukoilur, Thiruvannamalai and Vellore. The route is the same as that of the erstwhile Meenakshi Express that ran along from Madurai to Tirupathi for three decades, but without stoppage points that were in operation under the Meenakshi Express, prior to gauge conversion, when its service was halted.

However, no stoppage has been provided for the express train at significant religious towns of Mayiladuthurai, Kumbakonam and Chidambaram.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Rajendran pointed out that the Tirupathi Express in its current destination-table, halted at Thanjavur and then at Villupuram followed by Vellore.

“The train would not stop anywhere along a 150-km distance, which is illogical. Thiruvannamalai is an important centre for pilgrim traffic and it has been ignored,” Mr. Rajendran said.

The Tirupathi Express that was announced in the 2009 Railway Budget was introduced by the Southern Railways after much ado and now it has failed to fulfil the requirements of people of the Delta, Mr. Rajendran said.

Under its current format, like other super fast trains and express trains that halt at Mayiladuthurai for five minutes for technical reasons, the Tirupathi Express also halts for the same purpose. However, no tickets shall be issued under open or reserved travel over the counter as it is not an official stoppage point, and hence boarding the train would be deemed ticketless travel. This is the condition at a major stoppage point like Mayiladuthurai.

The introduction of the train has failed to make any tangible difference to the pilgrim traffic, as the route has been used only as a passage point rather than addressing the requirements of the people, Mr. Rajendran told The Hindu. According to him, the erstwhile Meenakshi Express has been revived as Tirupathi Express but without its facilities. The BJP has called for making the bi-weekly a daily service like its predecessor.

A representation has been made to Sushma Swaraj, leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, who could take up the issue with the Railway Board, Mr. Rajendran told The Hindu.

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Madurai-Tirupathi Express mere tokenism: BJP

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