Title - Extension of Pallavan Express shocks Tiruchiites

Pudukottai residents welcome news by bursting crackers, distributing sweets

Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal’s announcement of extension of the Chennai-Tiruchi-Chennai Pallavan Expresses to Karaikudi has come as a rude shock to the people of Tiruchi at a time when they have been fighting for several years now seeking the restoration of the Rockfort Express to Tiruchi.

While Tiruchiites have expressed their disappointment over this decision, the announcement has however, gladdened people of neighbouring Pudukottai who celebrated the news by bursting crackers and distributing sweets.

Lone train

The contention of Tiruchiites is that presently Pallavan Express is the lone originating train to Chennai from Tiruchi, a divisional headquarter.

Besides Pallavan, the other trains originating from Tiruchi are the Tiruchi-Tirunelveli Inter City Express (daily), Tiruchi-Chennai Cholan (daily) and the Tiruchi-Howrah biweekly express.

Extending the Pallavan Express to Karaikudi could affect the accommodation available at present to Tiruchiites, fear consumer groups and rail users here. The railway minister’s announcement comes as a rude shock for us, says M. Sekaran, president, Federation of Consumer and Service Organisations, Tiruchi.

Rockfort express

First, the railways extended the prestigious Rockfort express to Kumbakonam and now comes the announcement of the extension of the Pallavan Express to Karaikudi. It is yet another blow to Tiruchiites who have been fighting for several years seeking the restoration of the Rock Fort Express to Tiruchi, he says.

Instead of extending the Pallavan Express, the railways could very well operate a new day time train from Karaikudi to Chennai Egmore via main line or chord line benefitting travellers of Karaikudi, Pudukottai and other areas, feels Mr. Sekaran.

The same is echoed by S.Pushpavanam, secretary, Consumer Protection Council, Tamil Nadu. The railways can operate a connecting train from Karaikudi to Tiruchi in the early morning hours instead of extending the Pallavan Express which has been running for several years from Tiruchi, he says.

Coach maintenance

Coach maintenance would become a problem by extending the Pallavan Express train to Karaikudi.

The railways could operate a passenger train from Karaikudi to Tiruchi to connect the Pallavan Express, says H. Ghouse Baig, secretary, Consumer Protection Council, Tamil Nadu, Golden Rock branch.

The extension of the Pallavan Express is definitely not justifiable at the moment as it is the lone daily superfast train originating from Tiruchi to Chennai, says M.Lourdhuraj, general secretary, Train Travellers Welfare Association, Tiruchi.

The decision is disturbing as the existing train should not be disturbed, says N.Ramakrishnan, founder secretary, MGR Nalpani Mandram.

We are certainly not against people of other districts getting train facility, but the existing pattern should not be disturbed, he says suggesting that the railways could look out for other options like introducing a new train from Karaikudi instead of extending the Pallavan Express.


Pudukottai residents celebrate the news by bursting crackers, distributing sweets