CHENNAI: PMK scion Anbumani Ramadoss met Southern Railway General Manager Rakesh Mishra on Tuesday to set the ball rolling on a plea for the revival of the now-defunct rail link between Morappur and Dharmapuri, and sought his intervention over stoppages of certain trains at Morappur and Bommidi stations. He announced that he would soon meet Union Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda and Railway Board Chairman Arunendra Kumar about railway projects for Dharmapuri and Tamil Nadu.
Anbumani presented letters to the Southern Railway GM, recalling that a rail link had existed between Morappur and Dharmapuri about 60 years ago. “However, this track has been closed since then. Since the railway land is still there for utilisation, there is no hurdles in land acquisition,” read Anbumani’s letter.
He said that both government and private operators ply about 60 buses between Dharmapuri and Chennai every day, and that a large number of people travelled on this route daily.
“Dharmapuri is a fast developing district. It is not connected to Chennai by rail. As per the Railway Board policy, all district head quarters should be connected to the State head quarters,” read his letter, urging action on reviving the Dharmapuri - Morappur rail link.
Anbumani also sought intervention to drop plans to cancel the stoppages of the Tata Alleppey Express at Bommidi Station, and the Sabari Express and Chennai - Mangalore Express at the Morappur Station. He pressed for a stoppage at Morappur and Bommidi stations of the Palani Express, in view of the large number of pilgrims.