Rail user associations in Coimbatore conveyed their demands of travelling public for operation of new trains and improvement of facilities in the stations in the city at the DRUCC (Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee) meeting at Salem recently.
The demands espousing the progress of Coimbatore Junction, Podanur Junction, North Coimbatore Junction, and Irugur Junction were articulated at the meeting chaired by the Divisional Manager of Salem Railway Division Pankaj Kumar Sinha.
The authorities shared with the participants the status of the works in Podanur Station on yard remodelling, stabling lines, pit lines, train watering facilities and doubling of Podanur-Irugur track.
DRUCC Member and general secretary of Podanur Rail Users’ Association sought stoppages of
Mangalore-Coimbatore, Ernakulam-Bangalore Intercity Express, Ernakulam-Karaikal express, Mettupalayam-Tuticorin Express, as also restoration of the stoppages of Kanyakumari-Pune Express, Kanyakumari-Bangalore Express, and Yasvanthpur-Kannur Express at Podanur Station.
Extension of Coiimbatore-Madurai unreserved train to Bodinayakanur and restoration of MEMU train to Salem from Coimbatore were among the other demands articulated by Mr. Subramanian. He also suggested rake-sharing arrangements with Cheran Express and Mannaragudi Express for operating additional passenger services to Pollachi and Bodinayakanur respectively.
Other participants from Coimbatore highlighted the need for development of Coimbatore East – Irugur Junction with increasing the platform height, foot over bridge and other facilities.
The demands for stoppage of Nagercoil and Trichy unreserved express at Irugur Junction and Singanallur; necessity for subway, service road and extension of platforms in Peelamedu; and the requirement for two additional platforms in Coimbatore North Railway station and development of the facilities in the western side for access from Mettupalayam road were also conveyed at the meeting.
Meanwhile, the IGU/ Irugur Train Passengers Welfare Association conducted a meeting on Saturday drawing the attention of the Railways for development of the station, citing yearly revenue generation of Rs. 250 crore from the Goods/Cargo terminal.
Their short-term demands constituted construction of platforms with 24-coach capacity, lighting, footover bridge, and restoration of toilets and drinking water; stoppage of Coimbatore to Nagercoil and Palakkad to Tiruchi unreserved express in the morning, restoration of Coimbatore/Salem/Coimbatore MEMU train, and renaming of Irugur as Coimbatore East Junction.
In the medium term, they sought construction of boundary wall around the station and providing an entry from Irugur bus stand on the northern side and western side under the ROB, and a similar entry on the southern side in Irugur with entry on the western side as well under the ROB with gates and sufficient lighting.
In the long-term, the association specified the need for one additional loop line in the north of the existing lines for betterment in the operation of goods trains, and two stabling lines.
Published – February 08, 2025 09:07 pm IST