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This article is contributed to Cuddalore Online by Ramkumar.

Ramkumar who is a regular contributor to Cuddalore Online, has written a letter to Southern Railways requesting new services to be introduced in Cuddalore-Salem section. He wishes to publish the letter in this blog, so that others can also write similar letters to Southern Railways (ddpg@sr.railnet.gov.in).

Dear Sir,

As you may be aware, the Virudhachalam-Salem BG section has been opened for passenger traffic recently on 18th Nov. But to the disappointment of people of Cuddalore and Neyveli, not even a single Cuddalore-Salem passenger service has been introduced.

The people of the Cuddalore-Virudhachalam section were highly hopeful that atleast one Cuddalore-Salem Passenger service would be introduced. But Southern Railways have disappointed them and also have let them down.

Already, this Cuddalore-Virudhachalam section is found wanting in adequate number of services. Only one service - worth the name and also highly useful - the Cuddalore-Tiruchirappalli passenger service is running in this section presently. The people of this section were highly hopeful that they will be getting more new trains and more new connections once the Virudhachalam-Salem BG section is thrown open for traffic.

But now and even after the inauguration of Virudhachalam-Salem BG section, no new train services have been introduced in this section. There seems to be no increase in the number of train services plying in this section. Very unfortunate thing to have happened for this section.

This section is lying completely idle for most part of the day and night. Only one passenger service is running in this section. What is the point in making so much expenditure to convert the section from MG to BG and keeping it idle without operating adequate number of passenger services ?

We humbly request SR with folded hands to utilise this section more effeciently by introducing and operating more number of train services. The present Cuddalore-Trichy passenger is highly/heavily patronised by the people of this section.

One more Cuddalore-Salem Passenger should be introduced. After all, was not there a Cuddalore-Salem passenger service running when the Cuddalore-Salem section was in Metre Gauge ? That being the case, why is SR so much reluctant/hesitant to restore the Cuddalore-Salem passenger service in Broad Gauge ?

Why is not SR showing any interest in running more trains in this Cuddalore-Virudhachalam section. SR is originating many services from all nearby towns like Villupuram, Pondicherry,Virudhachalam and Mayiladuthurai. SR is not able to start services only from Cuddalore; clear neglect of cuddalore and also partisan attitude towards Cuddalore.

Again, we humbly request SR with folded hands to kindly consider our this request. Please give a favourable reply and also please take steps to add more new services to the Cuddalore-Virudhachalam section like outlined above. This section carries only one passenger service currently and this section is found wanting in adequate number of passenger services.

Hope SR will pay serious attention to our request and also to the Cuddalore-Virudhachalam section.

Eagerly Awaiting SR’s positive reply.

Many Thanks and Humble Regards,

Ramkumar.

Plea to extend train service - The Hindu

Special Correspondent

CUDDALORE: Consumer activists and residents of Cuddalore have urged Union Minister of State for Railways R.Velu to extend the Vriddhachalam—Salem train service (to be started from Sunday on the converted gauge system) to Cuddalore.

In a representation, M.Maruthavanan, general secretary of Federation of All Resident Welfare Associations, has urged the Minister to start the Cuddalore—Salem service without delay.

The buses bound for Vriddhachalam were running fully packed and if the commuters were to go to the temple town to catch the train, the situation would worsen.

A large number of commuters bound for Salem were from Cuddalore and therefore it would be apt if the train started from Cuddalore, he said. General secretary of the Cuddalore District Consumer Protection Organisation M. Nizamudeen has urged the Minister to start train services on the Cuddalore—Salem—Bangalore section and Cuddalore—Salem—Coimbatore section.

This article has been contributed to Cuddalore Online by Ramkumar.

Southern Railways has opened the Virudhachalam - Salem section. But as expected, Southern Railway has not added new services to Cuddalore - Virudhalacham section.

Southern Railways never thinks about Cuddalore or the Cuddalore-Virudhachalam section. It is acting as if Cuddalore is never in its agenda.

The very gauge conversion project bears the title of Cuddalore - Virudhachalam - Salem gauge conversion.

But Southern Railways is not able to operate even one Cuddalore - Salem Passenger, post the completion of full Gauge conversion of this Cuddalore - Virudhachalam - Salem.

We do not know what the South Arcot Railway Passengers’ association is doing and where it is ?

Highly unfortunate.

And there are no people to voice for Cuddalore. Cuddalore would remain under-developed even for years to come. The plight of Cuddalore will continue for years to come.

Even God cannot save Cuddalore.

This article as originally posted in CuddaloreOnline group.

This article has been contributed to Cuddalore Online by Ramkumar.

The Virudhachalam - Salem BG section is being commissioned on 18th Nov.

A Grand function for this is being held at Virudhachalam Junction on 18th Nov. Morning around 10:00 AM.

Minister of State for Railways Mr. R. Velu flags off the first passenger service in this section from Virudhachalam Junction. The first service to be introduced in this section would be a Virudhachalam - Salem Passenger service. MLAs, MPs, State and Central Ministers participate.

The Virudhachalam - Salem Gauge conversion is part of the Cuddalore-Salem Gauge Conversion Project.

For now, it is not known how many train services would be operated in this new Virudhachalam - Salem BG section.

If SR intends to operate only one Virudhachalam - Salem passenger in this section, then it is really a bad decision by SR. In that case, atleast, this Virudhachalam - Salem passenger should be extended to Cuddalore immediately.

Irrespective of the number of services proposed in this new section, SR should run minimum one Cuddalore-Salem passenger.

In fact, if SR can introduce a Cuddalore - Bangalore Fast Passenger or Express, it would be highly useful to people in Cuddalore, Vadalur, Neyveli and Virudhachalam.

Hope SR will do something to Cuddalore atleast this time.

This article as originally posted in CuddaloreOnline group on 14-Nov-2007.

This article has been contributed to Cuddalore Online by Ramkumar.

Cuddalore as in other fronts, stands ignored in Railway Front too.Luck never seems to favour Cuddalore, in spite of it being a district headquarters. The main cause for Cuddalore’s this plight is the lack of political backing for Cuddalore. There are no people to voice for Cuddalore.

The full CUPJ (Cuddalore Port Junction) -VRI (Vridhachalam) Broad Gauge section was thrown open to traffic in Dec. 2003. Only one service to Trichy plying in this section is of much use to the public. Even the other Cuddalore-Vridhachalam passenger is not of much use, as it provides connection only to a nearby town of Vridhachalam, which is at a short distance from Cuddalore.

Four Budgets in 2004,2005, 2006 and 2007 have passed and not even a single addition to the number of services which were introduced when the section was initially thrown open to traffic in Dec. 2003. Very Pathetic.

In contrast, SR is paying attention to every other section converted to BG. But it is this section, which needs SR’s attention, focus and concentration badly. A comparison of this section with all the other converted sections will reveal the true picture and also how this section has been totally ignored by SR. Also how Cuddalore has been badly let down by Southern Railway.

Thanjavur-Kumbakona m-Mayiladuthurai section

TJ (Thanjavur) -KMU (Kumbakonam) section was commissioned in early 2004 in connection with Mahamaham. The initial pattern of services were,

1 Pair of KMU-TEN Passengers and 1 Pair of KMU-TPJ passengers
In 2004-2005 TT TJ-MS Rockfort was extended to KMU
In 2005-2006 TT, TJ-CBE Jan Shatabdi was extended to KMU and so also TJ-MYS to KMU
When the KMU (Kumbakonam) -MV (Mayiladuthurai) section was converted to BG, KMU-TPJ,KMU- TEN passengers and MYS-KMU were extended to MV.
Also a new MV-TPJ passenger starting from MV in the morning and returning to MV in the night was introduced.
Now in 2007-2008, one more MV-TPJ express has been introduced.

TJ (Thanjavur) -TVR (Tiruvarur) section

This section was commissioned in the second half of 2006. Initial services were 2 Pairs of TVR-TPJ passengers and one pair of TJ-TVR passengers.
In the 2007-2008 TT, one more TVR-TPJ passenger has been introduced.

VPT (Virudhunagar) - TSI (Tenkasi) section

In 2004-2005 there was one pair of MDU-TSI passenger and also a weekly MS-TSI Podhigai Super Fast Express. In 2006-2007, one more pair of MDU-TSI passenger was introduced. Now in 2007-2008, one more special MDU-TSI passenger has been introduced and also Podhigai is now running daily.

Pondicherry- Villupuram section.

This section was commissioned in the first half of 2004. Initial services were 1 pair of PDY-MS Fast Passenger and PDY-TPTY passenger. In 2005-2006, 2 to 3 coaches to/from Pondicherry were moved to/from Chennai by Pearl City/Ananthapuri In 2006-2007, Pondicherry- Bhuvaneshwar weekly Super Fast train as well as PDY-MS five-day-a-week express train were introduced.

In contrast, if we take the Cuddalore-Vridhachalam section, the count of services at the time this section was commissioned remains the same even now, that is after 4 years. Not even a single addition. SR is going out of the way to operate services to/from Pondicherry. For two coaches, the attaching/detaching operation is happening at Villupuram on two days to provide a link between Pondy and Chennai. This is in addition to the daily PDY-MS Fast Passenger and Five-Day-a-week express services between Pondy and Chennai. SR is able to find even new timings in the congested MS-VM section to accommodate new trains for Pondicherry, which gesture or act of SR is not to be seen in the case of trains to other places.

Again the patronage in the Pondicherry- Villupuram section for all these three services between Pondy and Chennai are very poor, defeating the very purpose of operating these direct services to Chennai from Pondicherry. There does not seem to be any justification in offering more services to Pondy when the patronage offered/observed is poor and far from satisfactory.

On the other hand, there are sections like the Cuddalore-Vridhacha lam section, where there is a huge demand for train services, but SR does not seem to concerntrate on running more trains in this section. The rakes of these commercially unviable services,like in the PDY (Pondy)-VM (Villupuram) section, can very well be diverted and utilised to run more services in sections, where there is a huge demand for train/rail services like the Cuddalore-Vridhachalam section.

The Cuddalore-Trichy passenger is highly patronised by the people of the Cuddalore-Vridhacha lam section (Excluding Vridhachalam). Even an additional pair of service is very much required. But SR does not seem to take note of all these.

In the first leg of conversion of Cuddalore-Vridhachalam portion of the Cuddalore-Salem section, yes, the Cuddalore-Vridhachalam section has been totally ignored by SR and Trichy division. Now that the remaining portion of Vridhachalam-Salem also has been converted, SR should pay some attention to Cuddalore at least now.

Atleast, in the second leg, let Cuddalore get some justice and attention. SR should introduce direct trains to Bangalore and Coimbatore from Cuddalore via Vridhachalam and Salem. These services would be of high use to the people in places like Cuddalore, Kurunjipaadi, Vadalur and Neyveli coming under the Cuddalore-Vridhachalam section.

When SR is introducing new express services over short distances like the recently introduced Mayiladuthurai- Tiruchchirappall i express, it is but natural for the Cuddaloreans to get an opinion that theirs is the only place which is being treated badly and ignored totally by SR and Tiruchirappalli division.

When SR is running two coaches between Pondy and Chennai and an attaching/detaching operating happening for this at Villupuram, people tend to get an opinion that SR is only not able to do anything to Cuddalore, whereas it is doing and able to do something or the other, with respect to the other places.

The above mentioned places have a sound political backing that keeps things moving for them and in their favour, which backing unfortunately is not available for Cuddalore. Nobody to represent and voice Cuddalore’s Cause to the Railways.

There is one group called South Arcot Railway Passengers’Association. Unfortunately, this group is also not voicing Cuddalore’s cause and needs and also not getting things done for Cuddalore. This group is supposed to voice Cuddalore’s needs to Railways. But unfortunately no.

Can this Cuddalore Online Group do something to effectively voice and represent Cuddalore’s cause and needs to Railways, so that Cuddalore will get attention and consequently more train services for Cuddalore which would only be a big boon to the people of Cuddalore. After all, is not rail journey the most comfortable one when compared to bus journeys ? Hence more the train services from Cuddalore, more they will be useful for the people of Cuddalore to make a comfortable journey to different places.

This article as originally posted in CuddaloreOnline group.

With the upcoming gauge conversion work going on in the railway line, the city will be getting a rail over bridge on the Lawrence road.

The original plan as per the railway and revenue officials is that the bridge will pass straight on the Lawrence road. But there is a stiff opposition from the ‘Vanigar Sangam’ which comprises of all the top business people having their shopping centres on the Lawrence road.

Now the pity is that the overbridge will not go above the Lawrence road in order that business people are not affected and only the people of Cuddalore who use the road daily will be affected.
The overbridge will come from Chinna vaniar street and not over Lawrence road.

What a pity?

Already due to the congestion in the Lawrence road it is made ONE WAY which necessitates all light vehicles, buses to travel extra kilometres.

There is nobody to take necessary steps for easing the congestion on the Lawrence road and improve the amenities for the common man.

There are signs of Cuddalore being expelled from the rail route project along the East Coast Road. This is evident from the Union Minister of State for Railways R. Velu’s appeal to Mr.Rangasamy “to share 50 per cent of the total project outlay for laying the line from Chennai to the Union Territory on the ECR route (Mahabalipuram segment)”.

Again the expulsion of Cuddalore from the project is clear from Mr.Rangasamy’s memorandum to Mr.Velu.

Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has evinced keen interest in the progress of ongoing railway projects in the State and want these completed within a time frame, Southern Railway General Manager Thomas Varghese said here on Tuesday.
……………………..
Mr. Karunanidhi also wanted the zone to give priority to projects such as the Salem-Cuddalore gauge conversion and the MRTS for which the State Government was sharing the cost. He also urged the zone to provide more passenger amenities and complete the construction of ongoing railway over/under bridges in the State full story>>

For more than eight months there was no talk about the proposed Cuddalore and Chennai rail project until Union Minister of State of Railways R Velu broke the silence.Chennai- Mahabalipuram- Pondicherry- Cuddalore project is much anticipated by the people of Cuddalore and Pondicherry.

There was a proposal to connect Cuddalore-Pondicherry-Thindivanam and thus Chennai thereafter.This wont be a prefered route from Cuddalore to Chennai because of the travel time.Somehow the proposal got droped.

Later Pondicherry government put forward a proposal to connect Chennai (I suppose through Mahabalipuram) and Pondicherry thus leaving out Cuddalore.When Pondicherry government brought up the issue in 23rd Southern Zonal Council meeting, then Chief Minister Ms.J.Jayalalitha had promised to give the land along Buckingham canal.This proposal also seems to have failed the feasibility test.

Finally Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)-Pondicherry conducted a survey by itself. CII survey results showed the essential return could be got only if the railway line started from Cuddalore. So understanding necessitivity, Cuddalore was also include in the project and the survey findings where submitted to Southern Railways. It seems Southern Railways submitted (by the end of October 2005) the proposal to Railway Board for further proceedings.

This being the scenario, Mr.Velu he himself came forward and said that “a survey had been commissioned with regard to a railway line to link Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry and Cuddalore.”
while inspecting the ongoing works on MRTS in Perungudi.

Railway projects in Tamil Nadu were never given prefernce by successive governments. Since parties from Tamil Nadu has a stronger vioce this time, many railway projects are sanctioned here.A total of 80 new Railway Over Bridges are to be constructed in Tamil Nadu.The project must be sanctioned before the end of this term.If not it is less likely that the project will get the approval, especially because Tamil Nadu really got much in the present term.

As of now it appears that the MRTS will be extended along the Old Mahabalipuram Road upto Mahabalipuram, to provide the necessary support for the IT Corridor .So once Cuddalore-Pondicherry-Mahabalipuram line is laid it will make a complete the connection to Chennai.Old Mahabalipuram Road being the prefered destination IT firms this railway project once completed will get competitive advantage to both Pondicherry and Cuddalore.

It is interesting to note that work on Velachery-St.Thomas Mount is to start soon and is expected to be completed in four years.So making it easy for the tourists (from the Air Port) to reach places of touristic importance along the east coast.

Let us put aside our assertions and wait for the survey results of Department of Railways.

She will run on memory rails henceforth
‘Good bye faithful. Henceforth you will run on our memory rails.’

This was how a large number of commuters and railway employees who thronged the Salem Town Railway Station seemed to bid adieu to the Salem-Virudhachalam meter gauge train as they watched intently the bogies and its diesel engine being wheeled away on a special carrier.

One of the oldest train service in the country, it eventually came to an end four months ago due to gauge conversion between Salem-Cuddalore. Neither the stationmaster nor the Public Relations Officer of the Tiruchy Division (This sector comes under Tiruchy division) were able to tell when the service was introduced in the sector.

V M Ramasamy (75), president of the Salem Theater Owner’s Association and former councillor estimates that the service was introduced in 1921 between Salem and Attur and further extended to Virudhachalam and Cuddalore later.

But the Town Railway Station is much older, started on January 1, 1917. When Rajagopalachari was the Chairman of the Salem Municipality and E W Leigh was the Collector, train service was extended from Salem Junction at Sooramangalam to the Town Railway Station.

Another septuagenarian C Vayapuri, president of the United Farmers Association was active in the Salem-Virudhachalam Meter Gauge Train Commuters Association.

He had participated in several protests to improve the service like adding more boggies, more stops, more trips and extension of the service to port towns as a large numbers of farmers from Attur and Thalaivasal used the service to transport vegetables to port towns.

There are seven station master-managed stations, one run by clerks and five run by halt agents.

But Vayapuri was at pains when he was told that the trains were dismantled and taken away by the railway authorities. He remembered vividly his daily trips to Salem when the sky line was once open and one had the breathtaking views of the Shevroy Hills till Valapadi. But now the concrete jungles have marred those views, he lamented.

The Town Railway Station is still wrapped with vintage though surrounded by modernity. Time machine seem to wind backwards as one enters the shady premises.

The station master still sits in his old cabin in front of the old clock and the ageing block machines used to pull out balls that authorises the driver to go to the next station.

With the mechanical signal arm (called lower quadrant signal lighted with kerosene lamp once) still standing there, the station with old shady trees and concrete benches is irresistible for time killers and oldies.

The groundnut seller continue to do brisk business. But only the train is no more to chug in and out.