Travellers exasperated with delay in introduction of regular services on Karaikal-Peralam BG section

Seven months have passed since the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), Bengaluru, gave the “authorisation” for operation of passenger train services on the Karaikal-Peralam broad gauge section, but regular services are yet to be introduced.

The delay in the introduction of regular services on this 23.5-km electrified stretch has left rail users of Karaikal, Thirunallar and nearby areas exasperated.

It was after a gap of over three decades that this section was revived after the railway administration converted it into broad gauge. The section had a metre gauge line before train services were suspended in the mid-1980s.  The Southern Railway Construction Organisation had executed the broad gauge conversion project along with overhead electrification on this section and constructed new station buildings at Thirunallar and Ambagarathur stations en route. 

The CRS carried out a two-day mandatory inspection of the stretch on May 23 and 24 last year and gave the authorisation for opening the newly converted line for “public carriage of passengers” and operation of trains at a maximum speed of 75 kmph on May 27.

Consequent to the statutory clearance from the CRS, the Tiruchi Railway Division, under which the Karaikal-Peralam section falls, launched freight services from June transporting coal in bulk quantities from Karaikal Port. Although the Southern Railway operated special trains on this section during Velankanni festival and during the Nagore Kandoori festival, those were only for a limited duration.

Rail users of Karaikal, Thirunallar, and nearby areas have been eagerly awaiting the introduction of regular trains on this section. However, the prolonged delay on the part of the railway administration has left them exasperated. 

Protest planned

Upset over the delay in the introduction of regular services, representatives of various rail users associations of Karaikal, Nagapattinam, Thirunallar, Velankanni, Mayiladuthurai, and those from other organisations held a meeting in Karaikal on Wednesday. The meeting was convened to urge the railway administration to introduce regular services without delay. It was decided to stage demonstrations at various stations in support of the demand. 

“The railway administration should no longer delay the introduction of regular services and commence them at least before the ‘Sani Peyarchi’ festival in early March at Thirunallar which attracts devotees in huge numbers to the temple in that town”, said Pon. Paneerselvam, secretary, Thirunallar Rail Ubayogippaalar Payanigal Nala Sangam (Rail Users and Passengers Welfare Association). 

Travellers say the railway administration spent a huge amount of money in reviving the section by creating required infrastructure for operation of passenger train services.  But only coal was being transported on this section with no regular passenger services, said Pon. Rajendran, vice-president, Karaikal District Rail Travellers Welfare Association.

The railways can operate the Karaikal-Tambaram Express train from Velankanni via Nagapattinam, Nagore, Karaikal, Thirunallar, and Peralam as this would connect three major religious towns, suggested Mr. Pon. Rajendran. 

A railway official in Tiruchi Division said the Railway Board would have to take a call on the operation of regular services on the Karaikal-Peralam section.