Title - ‘Vadamadurai railway station will continue to serve commuters’

Even as the railway officials convinced the local people that all the facilities being provided to passengers at Vadamadurai railway station would continue, a section of the general public and the members of the Chamber of Commerce still expressed concern. But for many, the railway’s assurance came as a relief.

Divisional Railway Manager A.K.Rastogi, in a statement issued on Wednesday, assured that there would not be any change in passenger amenities, platforms, booking of tickets and stoppages of trains at Vadamadurai station.

The Hindu had carried a report on Wednesday that the shops downed shutters and autorickshaws stayed off the roads following a proposed move by the railways to close down the station.

The Divisional Railway Manager said as part of doubling of track, modern signalling equipment were being installed in the Tiruchi-Dindigul section, and an intermediate block signal system would be installed at Vadamadurai. Booking clerks would be available at the station. Similarly, the existing passenger facilities at Chettiapatti would also continue, he added.

Vadamadurai Chamber of Commerce president S.Thiagarajan said calculating the distance between stations while doubling the tracks had shattered the hopes of the residents.

“We do not think that continuance of booking staff and other facilities would ensure a long life to Vadamadurai station. At this juncture, we cannot predict whether the assurance is a permanent relief or a temporary joy,” he said.

“If they (Southern Railway officials) were really interested in continuing the operations at Vadamadurai station, we all will welcome it, because this station has been serving the people for more than 100 years,” he added.

However, regular rail commuters, particularly college students, heaved a sigh of relief over the announcement by the railway authorities.