Less train stops at Papanasam

THANJAVUR: It is one of the biggest taluks in this district and its claim to fame has been the Sri Garbha Rakshambikai Temple, the 108 Shivalaya Temple, the Srinivasa Perumal Temple and the Paalaivana Nathar Temple, which see thousands of devotees every day. But Papanasam has few trains that halt at its railway station.Besides devotees, several government or private company staf from here, working in Thanjavur and Tiruchy, are forced to rely on road transport, says T Saravanan, an office-bearer of the Train Passengers’ Association, Papanasam.He points out that the sale of tickets from the station for the Tirunelveli fast passenger train, the Maiyladuthurai-Tiruchy train, the Rockfort Express and other local trains fetches Rs 2 lakh per month. If other Express trains that pass through the station are allowed to halt there, the Railways’ revenue will be three-fold, he said. This would also benefit students at the Papanasam College, he added.G Kumar, an official with the Chamber of Commerce, Papanasam, recalls that the Cholan Express, the Rameswaram Express, and the Janatha and the Boat Mail Expresses halted there. Now, if a passenger wants to travel on the Mysore Express, he has to catch it from Thanjavur or Tiruchy. The Train Passengers’ Association reportedly petitioned railway officials over the issue each time they visited the station. Kumar of the Chamber of Commerce, Kumbakonam, has urged the halting of the Cholan Express, the Mysore Express and the Nagore-Chennai Express at Papanasam.He said the Train Passengers’ Association had raised the issue with the divisional railway manager and was promised action.