The slow pace in which the Southern Railway is pursuing the track doubling project between Villupuram and Thanjavur on the main line section has disappointed rail commuters from the old delta region.
The mainline section remained vibrant until the formation of the chord line section connecting Villupuram with Tiruchi via Ulundurpet, Virudhachalam and Ariyalur when not much of passenger train services were operated by the Southern Railway within its domain.
As the new link ensured quick access to the destinations at the southern parts of Tamil Nadu and Madras Egmore (now renamed as Chennai Egmore) in terms of both passenger and goods transportation, the grand old main line section – Villupuram-Chidambaram-Mayiladuthurai-Kumbakonam-Thanjavur-Tiruchi section has slowly started losing its importance, claimed the representatives of various rail passengers associations functioning in the Old Delta Region.
Several new trains started chugging through the chord line and importance was given to this section when the Indian Railways decided to convert the old metre gauge rail network as broad gauge network and subsequent electrification of the tracks.
Further, citing the track conversion work, rail connectivity from Mayiladuthurai to Tranquebar in the Old Delta Region and between Thiruthuraipoondi and Agasthiyampalli in the extended Delta region were shut down way back in 1980s. While, the Thiruthuraipoondi-Agasthiyampalli section breathed a fresh lease of life recently, the struggle to revive the Mayiladuthurai-Tharangambadi line was still on, according to Kuttalam P. Kalyanam, an elected representative of the erstwhile Kuttalam Assembly Segment.
Recounting the persistent efforts put in by the rail user associations along the main line section and those individuals who formed part of the Divisional Rail Users Consultative Committee members, to revitalise the main line section, a former DRUCC member on condition of anonymity said he was not able to comprehend the reason behind the ‘official apathy’ towards the old railway network section.
He pointed out the speed and vigour with which a new railway track connecting Peralam with Karaikal was laid and connecting Vailankanni with Nagapattinam, to substantiate his remark, though he welcomed the laying of new lines as it would serve specific section of rail commuters in the long run.
What had irked the main line commuters more was the standard reply of ‘work in progress’ from the officials whenever they pressed their demand for doubling of 193-kilometre track between Villupuram and Thanjavur via Mayiladuthurai and Kumbakonam for which, according to official sources, the survey was approved in 2019 and a report submitted as per schedule.
Published – November 05, 2025 05:08 pm IST
