Can ‘Railway Budget 2012-2013’ bestow more life to smaller towns in Southern Railway?
An entreaty for introduction of Fast Passenger trains between smaller towns and also for the sanction of Kollengode – Thrissur link that facilitates a Chord line between Pollachi and Thrissur, a fresh green inter-state rail corridor.
(Madan Menon Thottasseri)
_________________________________________________________________The majority amongst our common people who are residents of villages and small towns and are depending on Passenger Trains for their travel not to very far off cities, but to towns or pilgrim centers within the same state or in a neighboring state. The Uni-Gauge policy was getting implemented in a phased manner right from early nineties and thus even certain branch M.G lines were converted into B.G and integrated with trunk routes. The general public had imagined that after the gauge conversions, there will be adequate number of Fast passenger or Passenger trains with stopping in smaller towns where there are traditionally famous as well as lesser known temples, rural markets for agricultural or hill produce etc. Unfortunately by the time more and more routes were converted into B.G, the priority was to introduce direct trains from rail terminuses of Southern Railways to bigger cities in other parts of the country. Though unintentional, the need for Passenger Trains between smaller towns within the region or to the neighboring State so as to meet the demands of the marginalized communities were ignored.
Now the only pair of Passenger Trains with SL facility in Southern Railways is Train Nos. 727/728 Madurai- Trivandrum (301 km) - Kollam (366 km) Passengers.
In fact Southern Railways had the history of operating Fast passenger Trains with SL (Sleeper Class) and FC ( First Class) in the erstwhile Meter Gauge routes in sections for long distances, viz. Chennai Egmore – Trivandrum Central, Chennai Central- Sengottai. Later on due to enhancement in traffic it was confined to only certain sections. The last such trains (M.G) were between Chennai Egmore and Tanjavur( 351 km) and beyond up to Tiruchchi (336 km), in the main line through Villupuram and Mayiladuthurai.
If there are Passenger trains in the late night, villagers are facilitated to attend business meetings, private functions like marriages, festivals etc. up to late night hours in a bigger town and leave before mid-night for their home-towns within the region., say up to 250 k.m, so as to reach destinations in the early hours of the next day. This avoids their unnecessary night-stay in the town for which there will be a lot of constraints for common people. Passengers for a shorter distance, say for 100 – 200 km, will still find it convenient to travel by a late night passenger train as they will get a comparatively protected place to relax and sleep until sun-rise, even if they reach their destination station after midnight say between 1.00 – 4.00 A.M.
Southern Railway should look into the prospects of introducing Night Trains with more stoppages between Various Cities, with distances up to 300 km which can be covered by not more than 6 hours in routes where more people travel for trade and pilgrimage etc., provided the intensity of the traffic can accommodate Passenger trains.
It is desirable to introduce Night Passenger Trains between-
i)Tambaram and Mayiladuthurai (256 km) with connections to/fro Thanjavur ;
ii) Pondicherry and Hosur (396 km) with connection to/fro Bangalore and onward connection to Mysore/Hubli/Hospet;
iii) Tambaram – Pondicherry (171 km) with connection from Villupuram to/fro Katpadi
(as the gauge conversion in Villupuram- Thiruvannamalai - Vellore Cantt. Section is completed)
iv) (a) Trivandrum Central and Ernakulam via. Kottayam (220 km)
(b) Trivandrum Central and Ernakulam Jn. Via. Alappuza ( 206 km)
Both trains should have connection from Ernakulam to/fro Guruvayur with onward connection between Thrissur - Palakkad/ Calicut.
v) Ernakulam and Kannur (282 km) with Connection to/fro Mangalore Central and onward connection between Mangalore - Uduppi/Goa.
vi) Kannur and Palakkad Town (220 km) with Connections to/fro Palani/Dindigul - Madurai/Rameswaram (after gauge conversion in Palakkad- Dindigul section);
All these probable Passenger trains with requisite Passenger Connection trains can be based on the models of Fast Passenger Trains operated in certain sectors of Karnataka State by South Western Railways. It is appreciable that South-Western Railways, still operate Fast passenger Night trains as in its previous Meter-gauge era. Currently Only SL and II (Second Class) is available in these trains. There is a couple of Trains between Mysore and Bangalore Passengers (Train Nos. 235/236) with two SL coaches and the rest II coaches, both departing originating stations at 23.55 hours and arriving destinations at 4.00 hours. Bangalore – Hospet (478 km) / Hubli (469 km) Fast Passengers (Train Nos.583/585 and 584/586) are retained even after gauge conversion with II and SL coaches.
It will be convenient especially for the residents of Chennai and Pondicherry cities if Southern Railway could introduce a pair of Passenger trains in both directions, leaving around mid-night from Chennai Egmore or Tambaram enabling traders and even corporate executives to avoid travel by road wherein the road through Tindivanam or the East Coast Road through Mahabalipuram are highly saturated and prone to accident. As the rule of the “minimum SL chargeable distance of 200 km” is practiced, Southern Railways can collect fares for 200 km towards travel between any stations, whilst the distance from Egmore to Pondicherry is only 196 km. During the M.G era there were late night trains from both places with SL and FC as sectional coaches that were transferred at Villupuram in both directions though the distance was only 196 km. The facility of over-night journey had helped many Business travelers attending busy engagements up to late night but preferred returning on the same day itself so as to reach the destination in the early morning, next day.
Southern Railway should look into the feasibility of operating late night Fast Passenger Trains in routes where there is no saturated traffic from 11 P.M to early morning say up to 4.30 A.M. At present there is a popular demand for reintroduction of Fast Passenger Trains between Chennai Egmore and Thiruchchi, via the Main Line through Mayiladuthurai, despite giving stoppages for select Express Trains originating from Egmore, at Chidambaram, famous for the Nataraja temple as well for educational institutions like Annamalai University (244 km) and two pilgrim towns in the region viz. Sirkazhi (261 k.m) and Vaithisvwaran Koil (267 k.m). Southern Railway has to introduce a pair of night Fast passenger trains with SL facility at least between Tambaram and Mayiladuthurai Jn.
There is scope for operating a couple of Fast Passenger Trains offering more stoppages between Trivandrum Central and Ernakulam (220 km via. Kottayam and 206 km via. Alleppy) wherein trains can have a schedule of departure at 11.00 P.M with arrival at the destination around 4.30 A.M. Taking into account the volume of traffic, Southern Railway can see the prospects of operating a couple of trains both through Kottayam and Allapuzha routes.
It is to be noted that the distance from Madurai to Ernakulam via. Sengottai – Punalur - Kollam and Alappuza, (after the gauge conversion in Sengottai – Punalur sections) is 411 km. Once the gauge conversion between Dindigul – Palakkad sections is over and also provide the new B.G. link between Kollengode and Thrissur, the Madurai- Dindigul- Palani - Pollachi- Kollengode - Thrissur sections will offer a shortest route to Ernakulam with only 351 km. Thus there will be a reduction of 60 km in the distance between Madurai, the temple city and Ernakulam (Kochi) the “Queen of Arabian Sea”. Of course, this savings in distance is mainly due to the contribution of 46 km* from the yet to be implemented Kollengode– Thrissur line that facilitates the inter-state chord-link between Pollachi and Thrissur.
Previously the 102 km long Kollam- Punalur- Sengottai- Tenkasi M.G sections through the mountainous terrain had enabled over-night journey between Kollam (Quilon) and Madurai by Fast passenger trains. B.G connectivity is already established in the Madurai – Virudunager- Tenkasi- Sengottai (174 km) and Kollam (Quilon) - Punalur (45 km) sections. At this time the Punalur - Sengottai (50 km) line, the only pending portion in the M.G stretch is getting ready for B.G conversion. Up on conversion of this portion, while bringing back the glory of M.G era by introducing long distance Express trains between Chennai Egmore and Tiruvananthapuram Central through this shorter route, Southern Railway should concurrently introduce Fast Passenger trains to offer overnight journey from Tiruvananthapuram to Rameswaram, via. Kollam, Sengottai,Tenkasi, Virudanagar, Madurai and Manamadurai. As the trial run of the locomotive on B.G section in the Virudunagar- Aruppukkottai - Manamadurai under gauge conversion is completed, Southern Railway can introduce Fast Passenger trains from Tiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Sengottai Tuticorin, Tirunelveli etc. to Chennai, Pondicherry, Chidambaram, Thiruvannamalai, Kancheepuram or Thuchchi while this gradient-free stretch offers a link for the alternative rail route of Virudhunagar-Manamadurai-Karaikudi-Tiruchi to the over-utilised Virudhunagar-Madurai- Dindigul -Tiruchchi section.
It will beneficial especially for pilgrims if a pair of Fast Passenger trains are operated between Kollam(Quilon) and Pollachi (457 km), obviously through Dindigul and Madurai, once the B.G conversions in the Punalur- Sengottai (50 km) and Dindigul – Palani – Pollachi (122 km) stretches are completed and opened for traffic.
Further I would like to advocate for the introduction of Fast Passenger trains in most sought out inter-state routes with SL and FC coaches between PALAKKAD TOWN and the following towns as follows –
i) SALEM Jn. (222 km) via. Palakkad Jn. - Podanur- Coimbatore – Tiruppur- Erode., A portion of the train can bifurcate/amalgamate at Palakkad Junction to/fro.Guruvayur (distance from Salem 313 km) via. Thrissur.
ii) TIRUPATHY (527 km) via Salem – Katpadi - Pakala ; the train can bifurcate/amalgamate at Salem to/fro PONDICHERRY (513 km from Palakkad) via. Vridhachalam and Villupuram; another portion at Katpadi to/fo VELLORE CONTONMENT (432 km from Palakkad).
Palakkad being the border-town in Kerala and one of the busy Railway centers in Southern Railways with road and rail connectivity to all towns within the state, the above mentioned Fast Passenger Trains will cater to the needs of common people, Pilgrims as well as business communities of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. It will be a boon to hundreds of students studying in professional colleges in various towns in Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Kerala. Passenger trains can be introduced with departure time in the early evening instead of late night hours in the case of (2) above, as the distances cannot be covered with running time of less than 9 -10 hours. Palakkad Town station can be upgraded as a big railway terminus which is situated in the heart of the town. There is enough vacant railway land in and around the said station. Palakkad Town station with the B.G rail connectivity through the 5 km long ‘M.G cum B.G Mixed gauge’ from Palakkad Jn. already has Passenger trains to Tiruchchi and Coimbatore and an Express Train ( Amrita Express) to Tiruvananthapuram.
After the gauge conversion in the 58 k.m Palakkad Jn- PalakkadTown – Kollengode- Pollachi section, some of the Passenger trains can be rescheduled to originate/terminate at Kollengode, a town in the Palakkad district itself with a distance of just 18 km from the Palakkad Town.
Kollengode – Thrissur Railway line and emergence of Pollachi – Thrissur Chord Line, a fresh green ‘inter-state’ rail corridor:
There is a long pending proposal for a new line between
Kollengode, the erstwhile tiny realm under British Malabar and Thrissur, the
city of ‘pooram’ festivals, which is actually very much significant for the B.G
conversion project in the Palakkad- Dindigul route aimed to facilitate shortest
route to temple towns of south Tamil Nadu from Malabar and Cochin regions of
Kerala. Being a short distance of 54 km, the Ministry of Railways can still
incorporate the proposed Kollengode -Thrissur B.G line (The proposal to link
Kollengode lying in the Pollachi- Palakkad section presently under B.G
conversion, with Thrissur, via. Nenmmara, the valley town of Nelliyampathy Hill
station better known for the Nenmara-Vallenghy Vela festival, was neglected for
four decades) in the current Railway Budget- 2012 and simultaneously
release adequate funds for early implementation of the said new line as
well as for augmenting the completion of the gauge conversion projects in the
region.
The proposed Kollengode – Thrissur line will create
a Chord line between Pollachi and Thrissur. Kollengode is lying in the 58 k.m
long Pollachi – Palakkad M.G section under conversion, wherein the Pollachi –
Kollengode line is only with a distance of 35 km. Though the proposed line connects
two towns within the State of Kerala, it
paves the way for establishing a fresh green rail corridor from Tiruchchi - Dindigul - Pollachi region in Central Tamil
Nadu to Thrissur, the Cultural Capital of Kerala. Both States will be equally
benefitted from this proposed railway line.
After the B.G conversion
in Palakkad- Pollachi- Palani - Dindigul sections while Southern Railways can
make it feasible to operate express trains between Alappuza
(Alleppy)/Ernakulam/Guruvayur/Mangalore/Kozhikkode(Calicut)/Palakkad and temple
towns like Madurai,Rameswaram, Thiruchchi, Nagore, and Velankkanni in Tamil Nadu, it should simultaneously operate Passenger Trains as
well.
In case a new B.G line
between Kollengode and Thrissur becomes a reality, the distance from Alappuza/
Ernakulam/Guruvayur (via. Thrissur-Kollengode- Pollachi- Palani –Dindigul ) to Madurai /
Rameswaram will be further reduced by 46 km* as
Pollachi is getting linked directly to Thrissur , by-passing traffic saturated Palakkad
Jn.
The distance from Tiruchchi
(Trichy) to Thrissur, Guruvayur or Ernakulam/Cochin ( via. Manappara- Dindigul
– Palani – Udumalaipettai- Pollachi – Kollengode - Nenmara-Vadakkumcherry-
Kuthiran-Pattikkad-Mannuthy-Thrissur) will be less by 69 k.m** when compared with the
present round-about Tiruchchi- Karur -Erode – Podanur- Palakkad – Ottapalam –
Wadakkancherry – Thrissur route.
Further in future, the
Thrissur- Nenmara – Kollengode - Pollachi- Podanur B.G.sections (129 k.m) will
serve as an alternative route to the busy Thrissur- Palakkad Jn. – Podanur
Jn. (125 k.m), a double-lined
trunk section. Despite lengthier by 4 k.m, Southern Railways will find this
route through the valley of Nelliyampathy hills as a ‘third line’ between
Podanur and Thrissur, as it by-passes the busy Palakkad Jn.!
The Pollachi – Thrissur ‘chord’ rail-link will be
advantageous for the tourism development of Nelliyampathy (Kerala), Valparai
(TN), Top Slip (TN) hill-stations and many water reservoirs in the region-
Pothundy, Mangalam, Peechi, Malampuzha,
Chulliar, Meenkara, Aliar, Sholaiyar, Kadamparai, Nirayar and Parambikkulam.
Ultimately the Kollengode- Thrissur line will add value to the tourism
potential of these hill-stations and nearby dams with gardens, amusement parks,
boating lakes, resorts etc. that can be easily accessible by foreign tourists
landing at Kochi, Kozhikkode or Coimbatore airports.
Kerala and Tamil Nadu can
jointly take forward the demand for the Kollengode- Thrissur railway line with
the ministry of railways and get it sanctioned through the impending Railway
Buget - 2012. M.Ps especially from Thrissur- Palakkad – Pollachi - Palani and
Dindigul regions may have to muster support from their counterparts in
neighboring districts to get sanction for the Kollengode – Thrissur line which facilitates
a chord line from Pollachi, the industrial town in Coimbatore district of Tamil
Nadu well-known for the biggest market for vegetables, agro-products, hill-
produce etc., to Thrissur the ‘Pooram city’ in central Kerala. They must not ignore it as an insignificant
branch line within the boundary of a state, while the rail-link is equally
pertinent for the trade, commerce and tourism of both Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* Details of POLLACHI – THRISSUR; reduced distance of 46 km:
Pollachi – Kollengode – palakkad Jn. – Thrissur = 135 km
( Pollachi-Kollengode-Palakkad Jn.58 km+Palakkad–Shoranur-Thrissur 77 km )
Pollachi – Kollengode – Thrissur ‘chord line’ = 89 km
(Pollachi - Kollengode (35km) + Kollengode- Thrissur 54 km) ---------
Reduction in distance: 135 – 89 = 46 km
======
** Details of 'Thrissur- Tiruchchi' distance Saved (69 Km):
THRISSUR-TIRUCHCHI Jn., via. Palakkad – Erode = 373 km.
(Thrissur-Erode 232 K.m+Erode- Tiruchci Jn.141 k.m)
THRISSUR-TIRUCHCHI via. Kollengode, Pollachi - Palani & Dindigul- = 304 km.
(Thrissur-Kollengode 54 km + Kollengode-Pollachi-Dindigul 157 km+Dindigul- Tiruchchi Jn. 93 km)
------------
Reduction in distance: 373-304 = 69 k.m
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Madan Menon Thottasseri
email ID: t.madan.menon@gmail.com, menon_madan@hotmail.com
Mobile: +91-94440-39139
