Thanjavur association demands main line track dobuling in two phases

The Thanjavur District Railway Users’ Association has urged the Union Railway Ministry to take up the long-pending main line track doubling in two phases.

In a letter to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the association pointed out that the project of doubling the 193-km track between Thanjavur and Villupuram was sanctioned in 2019 and was still in a nascent stage.

Stating that the Southern Railway had been operating many trains through this section to provide direct connectivity to various regions despite sever traffic constraints, the association said this section acted as a feeder for other branch lines such as Mayiladuthurai-Agasthiyampalli/Mannargudi, Peralam-Karaikal, and Thiruthuraipoondi-Karaikudi sections. It said single track was coming in the way of introducing new trains through main line.

Further, traffic on Thanjavur-Mayiladuthurai section had peaked, especially at night, forcing the railways to plan special trains through Tiruvarur skipping this section.

Citing the station development work at Kumbakonam in view of the 2028 Mahamaham festival, the association said it would be difficult to operate ‘festival/additional services’ to clear the extra rush without increasing the capacity of Thanjavur-Mayiladuthurai section.

Hence, the association pleaded that track doubling between Thanjavur and Mayiladuthurai could be considered in the first phase and the Southern Railway should be asked to submit a Detailed Project Report without delay.