By The Hindu Bureau
Copyright thehindu
Augmenting the number of coaches, improvements in passenger amenities, new halts for express trains and new train services were among the slew of demands putforth at the Divisional Railway Users’ Consultative Committee (DRUCC) meeting organised by the Tiruchi Railway Division here on Thursday.
The nearly two-hour long meeting was chaired by Divisional Railway Manager and chairman of the DRUCC Balak Ram Negi and attended by senior divisional officers.
T. Saravanan, a DRUCC member from Papanasam, sought the operation of the Tiruchi-Tambaram-Tiruchi intercity express via Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, and Mayiladuthurai on a permanent basis. Provision of at least four additional coaches in the Mayiladuthurai-Tiruchi-Mayiladuthurai MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) train in view of the good patronage in the daily train service and provision of a one-minute halt of the Tambaram-Nagercoil-Tambaram Antyodaya Express at Papanasam were his other demands.
V.R. Dhanaseelane, a DRUCC member from Karaikal, requested the divisional railway authorities to install surveillance cameras and deployment of adequate RPF personnel at Karaikal station as a safety measure. He sought the construction of overbridges at three- level crossings in Karaikal.
Extension of the Punalur-Madurai Express up to Karaikal via Tiruchi and Thanjavur to connecti coastal areas of Karaikal, Nagore, and Nagapattinam to the southern districts, introduction of a daily overnight train service from Karaikal to Bengaluru via Nagore, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruchi, Karur, Namakkal, and Salem and introduction of a weekly train from either Karaikal or Velankanni to Mangaluru Central via Thanjavur, Tiruchi, Erode, and Coimbatore were among the demands raised by R. Subhash Chandran, a DRUCC member from Nagapattinam.
Abdul Razak, a DRUCC member of Adirampattinam, requested for halt of the Sengottai-Tambaram-Sengottai and Pamban Express at Adirampattinam station on an experimental basis.
The railway officers presented an overview of the ongoing projects and significant developments within Tiruchi Division. The DRUCC members offered valuable suggestions aimed at improving railway infrastructure, passenger comfort, and service quality. The Divisional Railway Manager and other officers acknowledged the points raised by the members.
