Madurai Divisional Railway Manager Om Prakash Meena has warned that an inquiry would be conducted and action taken regarding the complaint that some Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel reportedly collected money from encroached shops on railway land in Manamadurai.
The DRM inspected the Manamadurai railway station in Sivaganga district on Tuesday.
He found shops, including a lorry shed, functioning on encroached railway land in Anna Nagar. He asked the officials for details regarding the boundaries of the railway land. However, as the officials could not provide answers, he told them that encroachments on railway lands must be removed.
He walked for close to two hours covering 10 km to conduct the inspection. Observing various shortcomings during the visit, he sought an explanation from all officials concerned.
He checked the railway police station operating from a tin-sheet shed. He ordered the police to prepare a plan for constructing a new building and submit it immediately.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Meena said: “An inquiry will be conducted and action taken regarding the complaint that Railway Protection Force personnel collected money from encroached shops on railway land. The encroachments will be completely removed. Stopping the Tambaram–Sengottai train at Manamadurai will be considered.”
“The launch date for the Chennai–Rameswaram Vande Bharat train service has not been finalised yet. When train traffic to Rameswaram increases, the Manamadurai railway station will be upgraded. Additional trains will be operated based on passenger volume,” he added.
Earlier, traders submitted a petition to the Divisional Railway Manager under the leadership of Traders’ Association President Balagurusamy. In the petition, they said the Tambaram–Sengottai train and the proposed Vande Bharat train should stop at Manamadurai.
In a petition, Marxist Communist Union Secretary Muniraj requested that an overbridge be constructed near the old bus stand.
Mr. Meena visited the Sivaganga and Karaikudi railway stations. Since Sivaganga was a district headquarters, the railway station would be upgraded under the Amrit Bharat scheme, he said. The resumption of the suspended Mannargudi train will be considered.
He visited the renovated Paramakudi Railway Station which is to be inaugurated on October 11.
Published – October 06, 2026 09:23 pm IST
