RailEnquiry

KARUR:Commuters and public have urged the Southern Railway to resume the passenger train service between Karur and Dindigul that has remained suspended for decades now. Burgeoning demand from the industrial towns that employ workers from villages and place en route has necessitated the demand for train service in the sector.Besides, train travellers have also urged the Salem Division to consider reopening the closed stations in some of the places in the section. “Thousands of semi-skilled workers and labourers travel to textile export units in Karur and numerous other industries in Dindigul.With diesel price being revised every month, road travel has become dearer these days,” observes the president of the Karur District Train Travellers Welfare Association S. Annadurai. In fact the Railways had operated passenger trains in the Karur-Dindigul sector soon after the formation of the track several years ago.

But lack of patronage then forced the closure of some stations en route such as Sanapiratti, Emoor, Guziliamparai, and Kovilur, along with the withdrawal of passenger services.

But times have changed for the better and more people were travelling the section by road to work spots in the two district headquarters. `` Almost all buses being operated in the sector are running jam packed and in some routes people travel on roof top. That by itself is proof enough of the increased demand for resumption of services,’’ Mr. Annadurai explains. The Railways could operate a passenger service between Karur and Dindigul in the morning and evening peak hours. With the completion of the Karur-Salem new broad gauge line the officials could even contemplate extending Dindigul-Karur-Namakkal-Salem service once in the day on either direction. The public hope that the Railways would consider the plea to operate passenger services in the sector as soon as possible for the benefit of commuters in the section.