AIADMK MPs have pressed for the extension of the Chennai-Chengalpattu suburban electric train service to Tindivanam.
Tamil Nadu: AIADMK MPs on Wednesday urged the Union Railway Minister to extend the Chennai-Chengalpattu suburban electric train service to Tindivanam.
In this regard, AIADMK Rajya Sabha MPs C.V. Shanmugam, Dr. M. Dhanapal, and R. Dharmar met with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in person in Delhi on Wednesday.
At that time, MP C.V. Shanmugam stated in the memorandum submitted:
Tindivanam Railway Station is highly appreciated by the people of Tindivanam and Villupuram parliamentary constituencies.
Located on National Highway No. 45, Tindivanam is a transportation and commercial hub providing crucial rail connectivity to Chennai and the northern districts, the Union Territory of Puducherry to the east, Cuddalore district to the south, and Kallakurichi district and the Bangalore road to the west.
This station caters to the travel needs of people from more than 400 surrounding villages.
Several major express trains that used to stop at Tindivanam were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, these services have not yet been restored. As a result, passengers in the region have faced considerable inconvenience.
Therefore, steps should be taken to ensure that train numbers 16865-16866 Uzhavan Express, 16159-16160 Mangalore Express, 12653-12654 Rockfort Express, 22153-22154 Salem Express, and 16176 Karaikal Express (towards Chennai) stop at Tindivanam Railway Station.
Currently, electric EMU suburban train services operate only up to Chengalpattu. Beyond Chengalpattu, limited MEMU services operate to Melmaruvathur and further south. This is insufficient to meet the growing passenger demand. The distance from Chengalpattu to Melmaruvathur is 35 km, and the distance from Chengalpattu to Tindivanam is approximately 65 km. The distance from Melmaruvathur to Tindivanam is approximately 30 km. Despite having a well-established railway line, Tindivanam does not have electric light rail service. Therefore, the petition requested that immediate action be taken to extend EMU or, preferably, MEMU suburban electric train services to Tindivanam.
C.V. Shanmugam said that the minister has promised to consider the request and take action promptly.
Similarly, while the renovation work at Ambattur railway station is underway under the Amrit Bharat Scheme, former MLA Alexander and the Ambattur Railway Passengers Association, based on a project proposed for the welfare of passengers, requested the minister to construct an additional fourth platform at Ambattur railway station. The minister assured them that he would take immediate action, according to MP Dhanapal.
