Title - After five years, regular train services back on Virudhunagar - Manamadurai section

VIRUDHUNAGAR: With the Madurai railway division extending Karaikudi-Manamadurai-Karaikudi passenger till Virudhunagar via Aruppukottai, the long-standing demand for rail connectivity in the section has finally been met. The extended passenger train was formally inaugurated at Virudhunagar junction on Saturday morning.Viruthunagar - Manamadurai section was closed for broad-gauge conversion work in 2008 and the people in the region were stressing for the speedy completion of the works as the work proceeded at snail pace.After five years, the section was ready for train operation and the section was inaugurated for train operation in the presence of Union minister of state for civil aviation K C Venugopal on July 14. The recently flagged off Puducherry - Kanyakumari Weekly Express was the sole train plying through this section. As the local people were demanding more train services, the division has now extended Karaikudi-Manamadurai DEMU passenger till Virudhunagar.The extended passenger service, train number 76837 Karaikkudi-Virudunagar passenger (except Saturdays) will leave Karaikkudi at 6.15pm and arrive Manamadurai at 7.35pm to leave Manamadurai at 7.45pm and will reach Virudunagar at 9.45pm. Meanwhile, train number 76838 Virudunagar-Karaikkudi passenger (except Sundays) will leave Virudunagar at 6am, arrive Manamadurai at 7.40am to leave Manamadurai at 7.50am and will reach Karaikkudi at 9.35am. The train will stop at Devakottai road, Kallal, Panangudi, Sivaganga, Melakonnakulam, Manamadurai, Narikkudi, Tiruchchuli and Aruppukkottai.

Virudhunagar MP, Manick Tagore flagged off the train in the presence of divisional railway manager, A K Rastogi and Additional DRM, V Ajithkumar and other railway officials. A Malairajan, a member of the Consumer Forum in Aruppukottai welcomed regular train service on the stretch after five years. "The train timings are very beneficial for the office-goers. We urge the railway authorities to extend this train up to Senkottai so that many more benefitted," he said.