Trichy Junction gets uplift
The Tiruchi Railway Junction can boast of being one of the most important and oldest stations in the Southern Railway, if its prime position in the railway map of the State is anything to go by. With a sprawling space and the location in the heart of the city, the station has been witnessing a string of developmental programmes .
The railway has accorded priority for Tiruchi in terms of modernisation, expansion, beautification and other allied projects taking into account its central location in the State.
The city is part of a major network with rail links connecting with many cities in the country.
Besides, the importance of the station could be gauged from the Tiruchi–Villupuram chord line section happening to be a major crossing section for over dozen overnight trains, which run from southern districts to Chennai and vice-versa.
The junction had seven platforms during MG days. Later, when the chord line was converted into a BG track, the four platforms were converted into BG platforms in the initial stages.
A few years ago , platform number 5 was also converted into BG platform .
But what made this junction to cut a sorry figure is the inordinate delay of trains.
Reason: The five platforms are fall short of the requirement for trains originating or passing through the Tiruchi Junction, especially during peak hours.
On many occasions, trains are made to wait at the signal outside the junction.
Moreover, stopping of trains en route, that too in the wee hours, is not in the interest of the safety and security of passengers and their property.
In a move to ease the congestion at the junction, the railway, decided to convert and develop platform number 6 and 7 to accommodate BG trains.
The proposal was planned at Rs. 3.5 crore that included construction of high level platforms on par with BG standard, concrete apron works on both tracks, three stabling lines near the old MG yard for parking of coaches and a reception and despatch track, mainly for goods trains.
Both platforms have been designed to accommodate 24-coach trains.
Work on developing these two platforms that commenced about a year and a half ago, is targeted to be completed by September 2010.
However, the speed with which the work is progressing at present, this project is not likely to take off before the end of the current financial year.
On the other hand, the snail's pace of the work has become a cause for concern for regular commuters.
“This is a vital project and the railway should shake off laxity and concentrate in expediting the work and complete it within the stipulated time,” a cross section of the people of the city feels.
The railway is capable of finishing the project in time and there is no valid reason for delay , they say.
The railway should leave no stone unturned in its efforts on establishing platforms 6 and 7 as per the schedule, observed N. Jayaprakash, chairman, Pullambadi Panchayat Union and member of Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee, Southern Railway.
“With the introduction of passenger train traffic on the Villupuram- Mayiladuthurai main line section, the railway has introduced new trains, including Madurai–Chennai by-weekly express, Rameswaram–Varanasi and Rameswaram–Bhubaneswar weekly express trains and trains like the Madurai–Tirupathi express are in the offing.
The traffic congestion is going to be serious in the days to come and two more platforms will be of immense use in tackling the congestion,” says Sameer, a private concern employee.
The railway has accorded priority for Tiruchi in terms of modernisation, expansion, beautification and other allied projects taking into account its central location in the State.
The city is part of a major network with rail links connecting with many cities in the country.
Besides, the importance of the station could be gauged from the Tiruchi–Villupuram chord line section happening to be a major crossing section for over dozen overnight trains, which run from southern districts to Chennai and vice-versa.
The junction had seven platforms during MG days. Later, when the chord line was converted into a BG track, the four platforms were converted into BG platforms in the initial stages.
A few years ago , platform number 5 was also converted into BG platform .
But what made this junction to cut a sorry figure is the inordinate delay of trains.
Reason: The five platforms are fall short of the requirement for trains originating or passing through the Tiruchi Junction, especially during peak hours.
On many occasions, trains are made to wait at the signal outside the junction.
Moreover, stopping of trains en route, that too in the wee hours, is not in the interest of the safety and security of passengers and their property.
In a move to ease the congestion at the junction, the railway, decided to convert and develop platform number 6 and 7 to accommodate BG trains.
The proposal was planned at Rs. 3.5 crore that included construction of high level platforms on par with BG standard, concrete apron works on both tracks, three stabling lines near the old MG yard for parking of coaches and a reception and despatch track, mainly for goods trains.
Both platforms have been designed to accommodate 24-coach trains.
Work on developing these two platforms that commenced about a year and a half ago, is targeted to be completed by September 2010.
However, the speed with which the work is progressing at present, this project is not likely to take off before the end of the current financial year.
On the other hand, the snail's pace of the work has become a cause for concern for regular commuters.
“This is a vital project and the railway should shake off laxity and concentrate in expediting the work and complete it within the stipulated time,” a cross section of the people of the city feels.
The railway is capable of finishing the project in time and there is no valid reason for delay , they say.
The railway should leave no stone unturned in its efforts on establishing platforms 6 and 7 as per the schedule, observed N. Jayaprakash, chairman, Pullambadi Panchayat Union and member of Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee, Southern Railway.
“With the introduction of passenger train traffic on the Villupuram- Mayiladuthurai main line section, the railway has introduced new trains, including Madurai–Chennai by-weekly express, Rameswaram–Varanasi and Rameswaram–Bhubaneswar weekly express trains and trains like the Madurai–Tirupathi express are in the offing.
The traffic congestion is going to be serious in the days to come and two more platforms will be of immense use in tackling the congestion,” says Sameer, a private concern employee.
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