CODISSIA’s President Karthikeyan, Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry- Coimbatore’s (ICCIC) President Rajesh Lund; Kongu Global Forum’s Vice Chairperson Vanitha Mohan and SIEMA’s President Mithun Ramdass wrote to R.N.Singh, General Manager of Southern Railway requesting various railway-related facilities that could benefit Coimbatore and the whole Western Tamil Nadu.
They appealed Railways to upgrade Coimbatore North Railway Station and give it a terminal status.
“Granting terminal status to this station would greatly benefit commuters by easing congestion at Coimbatore Junction and providing improved accessibility to passengers residing in and around the city,” they said in their letter to the GM.
A request to increase the stopping of major trains originating from Coimbatore Junction at Coimbatore North was also made. Important trains such as Kovai Express, Chennai Intercity Express, Nagercoil Express, Mayiladuthurai Jan Shatabdi Express and Bangalore Uday Express could be considered for regular stoppage, they said.
They suggested to shift the existing goods shed at Coimbatore North Railway Station to a more suitable location as it will significantly decongest city traffic, particularly heavy lorry movement involved in loading and transporting goods from rail wagons to various destinations outside the city.
At present, the station has four access roads. They pointed out that there is scope for developing a fifth approach road, which would further improve passenger movement and ease entry and exit from the station.
They also requested railways to make the weekly/bi-weekly services from Coimbatore such as Rameswaram Express (Train No. 16618); MGR Chennai Central Superfast Express (Train No. 12682); Kongu Superfast Express to New Delhi (Train No. 12647) and Mettupalayam Thoothukudi Express (Train No. 16765), into tri-weekly services.
Services from Coimbatore such as Dindigul Coimbatore – Dindigul service via Palani; Coimbatore – Sengottai – Coimbatore Superfast Express via Palani and Coimbatore – Salem – Coimbatore Express via Erode which were curtailed earlier, should be restored at the earliest.
They also asked for commencing new train services such as Coimbatore – Barauni – Coimbatore Express; Coimbatore – Thiruvananthapuram -Coimbatore Vande Bharat Express via Palakkad; Mettupalayam – Tiruchendur – Mettupalayam Express via Palani and Jan Shatabdi Express: Kanniyakumari-Coimbatore-Kanyakumari via Madurai.
