NAGAPATTINAM: Railway association members and rail users have expressed disappointment over the limited number of special trains and their operating period announced on Thursday for the Sani Peyarchi festival at the Tirunallar Saneeswaran Temple on March 6, stating that they expected adequate services connecting different parts of the state to Tirunallar from March 4 to 8.
On Thursday, the Southern Railway announced the operation of special unreserved MEMU trains between Villupuram and Nagapattinam on March 6 and 7. The festival, which occurs once every two-and-a-half years, is expected to draw thousands of devotees from across the country. The announced train (Train No. 06133) will depart Villupuram Junction at 9.10 am and reach Nagapattinam at 1.05 pm, while the return service, Train No. 06134, will leave Nagapattinam at 1.20 pm and arrive Villupuram at 5.30 pm.
The eight-coach trains will halt at several intermediate stations, including Panruti, Tiruppadiripuliyur, Cuddalore Port, Parangipettai, Chidambaram, Sirkazhi, Vaithisvarankoil, Mayiladuthurai, Peralam, Tirunallar, Karaikal and Nagore. Railway officials said the services were introduced to clear additional passenger rush during the festival period.
However, rail users, traders and members of the Rail Users' Association expressed disappointment over the limited number of special trains, noting that they had earlier urged railway authorities to introduce multiple additional special and permanent services through Tirunallar to handle the expected surge of pilgrims.
"Rail users and representatives of the Karaikal Chamber of Commerce had earlier sought special trains via the Peralam route between March 4 and March 8, including services from Tambaram to Karaikal, Puducherry to Karaikal via Tirunallar, and from Madurai and Tiruchy to Tirunallar, to facilitate devotees travelling for the Sani Peyarchi festival," said J Venkatraman, Joint Secretary of the Karaikal Chamber of Commerce.
Rail users said there could have been more alternative and better connections than the Villupuram-Nagapattinam train. "Rather than the Villupuram to Nagapattinam train, it would have been more convenient if the railways had facilitated special train between Tambaran and Velankanni through Peralam," said Aravind Kumar of the Nagai District Consumer Protection and Passenger Association.