Relevance of proposed Kollengode – Thrissur railway while opening Pollachi – Kollengode – Palakkad BG line

Relevance of proposed Kollengode – Thrissur railway while opening Pollachi – Kollengode – Palakkad BG line

( Madan Menon Thottasseri)

The Pollachi – Palakkad line’s track laying ( MG to BG Conversion ) was in full swing during the past few months as Southern Railway had actually envisaged to open the same for traffic at least by mid April, 2015. Of course the schedule could not be maintained. Once the inspection by Commissioner for Rail Safety is over, there is likelihood for introduction of trains without further delay. The significance of the Palakkad Jn - Palakkad Town - Pudunagaram- Kollengode - Pollachi - Udumalaipet- Palani - Dindigul BG line is enormous mainly due to the fact that it creates direct rail link between Central Tamil Nadu to West Coast cities - Goa, Mumbai etc via. Palakkad, Kozhikkode, Mangalore etc( through Konkan Railway from Mangalore).

Happy to know that gauge conversion in the Palakkad - Kollengode - pollachi section is almost completed and waits for the formal CRS inspection prior to the introduction of trains. This line is the part of the Palakkad - Dindigul BG Conversion project. It is to be noted that the Pollachi - Palani - Dindigul section is already opened for traffic and the Pollachi - Podanur section is under work in progress. It took around seven long years to convert the MG line to BG! Cessation of MG trains for gauge conversion was on 10th December,2008. The conversion project was very much behind the schedule. People of the region condemned the slow pace of project development and they had apprehensions on the commissioning of the rail section for resumption of train services (in the BG track) as promised by the Southern Railway.

It would have been fine if the pending Kollengode - Thrissur line ( fresh BG line) had been sanctioned and made a reality at this time when the full stretch of the Dindigul – Palakkad MG section becomes a BG section upon gauge conversion. Very unfortunate that the Kollengode - Thrissur BG railway line (originally planned as a MG line !) is still pending! The Kollengode - Thrissur line must become a reality which will create a direct chord line between Pollachi and Thrissur and leads to a fresh new rail corridor from Central Tamil Nadu to Central Kerala while the erstwhile MG network are all most converted into BG in this region.

A direct rail corridor from Pollachi to Thrissur by-passing the busy Palakkad will be availed if the decades’ long pending Kollengode – Thrissur railway line becomes a reality and will be useful for the faster movement of Containers between Tuticorin and Cochin Ports.

The B.G.Link from Dindigul to Coimbatore Jn. through Pollachi will help the easy movement of export-cargo, mainly Tea from Nilgiris and Textiles/Garments from Coimbatore – Tiruppur industrial belt to the Tuticorin Port.

Kollengode – Thrissur railway , the long pending line connecting Kollengode (lying in the Pollachi – Palakkad section just converted into BG) and Thrissur, the city of Pooram festivals in central Kerala (lying in the Chennai - Palakkad – Ernakulam trunk route) is a paradigm for railway project which was neglected by the railway ministry during the past 50 years!

A traffic survey for connecting Kollengode and Thrissur (B.G) was done during 1964-65 by the distinguished Padmashree P.N.Baskaran Nair (late) who simultaneously surveyed the Salem- Bangalore and Hassan Mangalore lines. Actually this was the second survey, as the initial survey conducted during the pre-independence period in mid forties already went unnoticed. Though the said line was resurveyed in the year 2004 and 2007, it was resurveyed afresh! This account of a once shelved proposal for a railway line that facilitates Pollachi – Thrissur ‘chord’ line, is eligible to be included in the ‘wish list’ of both Kerala and Tamil Nadu as it has the potential to get refurbished. This railway line through the valley of Neliyampathy Hills can beyond doubt facilitate a fresh green rail-corridor from South Tamil Nadu to Thrissur, the cultural capital of Kerala and it will be increasingly significant for the tourism development in both states.

Due to its proximity to the Western Ghats, Pollachi has cool climate in all seasons. South India’s biggest cattle market and Asia’s largest jaggery and vegetable market are popular in Pollachi. In fact the central Kerala depends on Pollachi for vegetable and kitchen provisions.

The Dindigul-Palani-Udumalaipettai-Pollachi B.G section creates a shorter rail route from Chennai (Egmore) to Palani, the temple town well known for hill-temple of Lord Subramanya and to Udumalaipettai, the growing industrial town. It will be feasible to introduce direct trains between Chennai Egmore and Palakkad/Thrissur via Villupuram – Vridachalam -Trichy – Dindigul – Palani – Udumalaipet - Pollachi - Kollengode.

Kollengode – Thrissur line will actually create a busy pilgrim rail route viz. Palani - Pollachi – kollengode – Thrissur- Guruvayur link with a potential to operate round the clock train services between Palani and Guruvayur Operation of both Express and Fast Passenger trains through Dindigul- Palani –Pollachi – Kollengode- Nenmara- Thrissur line connecting trunk-route rail-heads of Tamil Nadu and Kerala (Maduarai/Tiruchchi/Dindigul and Thrissur/Guruvayur/Ernakulam respectively) will enhance the potential for traffic earnings and optimum utilisation of rolling stocks.

Further in future, the Thrissur- Nenmara – Kollengode - Pollachi- Podanur B.G.sections (129 k.m), will serve as an alternative route to the busy Thrissur- Palakkad Jn. – Podanur Jn. (125 k.m) double-lined trunk section. Thus Southern Railways can treat this route through the valley of Nelliyampathy hills, lengthier by just 4 k.m as a ‘third line’ between Podanur and Thrissur, while it enables to skip the traffic saturated Palakkad Junction.

It was very appreciative that a team of Southern Railway officials headed by Mr.K. George John, Dy. Chief Operation Manager ( Survey & Construction wing) had conducted inspection of sites in Kollengode – Nenmara – Vadakkumcherry stretch and also had interface with the Action Councils for the proposed Kollengode – Thrissur railway functioning at Nenmara and Kollengode in December,2012. Though people in this region had taken for granted that Southern Railway will put forth the Kollengode – Thrissur Railway Line to be eligible for implementation, it was never incorporated into the Railway Budget for 2013-14 and even subsequent Budgets for 2014- 15 and 2015 -16! Let us hope that both Kerala and Tamil Nadu ( though it is within Kerala ) will take note of potentials of Kollengode – Thrissur railway and prevail on the Railway Ministry to make it a reality at the earliest at least through the ensuing Railway Budget 2016-2017

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Palakkad – Pollachi Rail link awaits formal inspection by CRS to commence train service

Palakkad – Pollachi Rail link awaits formal inspection by CRS to commence train service

( Madan Menon Thottasseri)

Happy to know that gauge conversion in the Palakkad - Kollengode - pollachi section is almost completed and waits for the formal inspection prior to the introduction of trains. This branch line is the part of the Palakkad - Dindigul BG Conversion project. It is to be noted that the Pollachi - Palani - Dindigul section is already opened for traffic and the Pollachi - Podanur section is under work in progress.

It took around seven long years to convert the MG line to BG! Cessation of MG trains for gauge conversion was on 10th December,2008. The 6th anniversary of the closure of PGT - Pollachi MG section was on 10th December, 2014 and the conversion project was very much behind the schedule. People of the region condemned the slow pace of project development and they had apprehensions on the commissioning of the rail section for resumption of train services (in the BG track) as promised by the Southern Railway. Southern Railway will find it feasible to operate express trains between  Ernakulam, Guruvayur, Mangalore, Palakkad and Pondicherry, Karaikkal as well as temple towns like Palani, Madurai, Rameswaram, Thiruchchi (Trichy) , Nagore, and Velankkanni in Tamil Nadu. As per the scheduled programme, the gauge conversion work in Palani – Pollachi- Palakkad section had to be finished on or before 31st March, 2013! The project had very much overrun time and cost and of course patience of passengers!

The conversion work in the pending stretch of Pollachi Jn. – Kollengode – Palakkad Jn. is very significant since it is last phase of the Palakkad – Dindigul B.G conversion. Once the train services get resumed in the Palakkad – pollachi section, there will be some impediments to road users due to the closure of railway gates in Olavakkode, Robbinson road and Yakkara road as well as the gate at Oottara in the Kollengode – Chittur/Palakkad road) near the Kollengode railway station. Kerala government as well as Local bodies can take initiative to collaborate with Southern railway for the construction of over-bridges to overcome the adverse situation of traffic jams.   .

Since the BG line from Pollachi reaches Palakkad junction through the western side, the engine has to be shunted to the rear side of the train for hauling towards Shournur/Thrissur . Thus it is desirable to have a loopline towards the Parali railway station from the ‘Kavilppadu’ area, after the level crossing between Palakkad Town and Palakkad Junction. To avoid the waste of time in changing the engine, trains can be made to run through the loop-line and can be brought backwards to the platform in the Palakkad Junction. Goods trains that need not come to Palakkad junction can be directed through the loop-line towards Shoranur/Thrissur. As the entire Dindigul – Palani – Udumalaipet - Polachi – Kollengode - Palakkad section is not electrified, change-over to electic engine can be done at Palakkad Town itself, especially for those Goods Trains which bypass Palakkad Junction.

Palakkad – Pollachi line that gets connected with trunk routes in Dindigul and Palakkad will add value in respect of traffic earnings to the Palakkad and Madurai divisions in the Southern Railway.

The Palakkad – Pollachi BG conversion’s track laying was in full swing during the past few months as  Southern Railway envisaged to open the same for traffic at least by mid April, 2015. Of course the schedule could not be maintained. Once the inspection by Commissioner for Rail Safety is over, there is likelihood for introduction of trains without further delay.  The significance of the Palakkad Jn - Palakkad Town -  Pudunagaram- Kollengode - Pollachi - Udumalaipet- Palani - Dindigul BG line is enormous mainly due to the fact that it creates direct rail link between Central Tamil Nadu to West Coast cities - Goa, Mumbai etc via. Palakkad, Kozhikkode, Mangalore etc( through Konkan Railway from Mangalore).

Once the Dindigul – Palakkad section becomes operational a new pair of trains offering overnight journey from Chennai to Guruvayur can be introduced. Of course currently passengers form Chennai prefer to travel directly to Guruvayur by overnight trains to Thrissur ( by Ernakulam, Alleppy, Thiruvananthapuram bound trains via. Erode -Palakkad and even get a connection train from Thrissur to Guruvayur for the just 22 km away).

Since availability of accommodation in trains up to Thrissur will be less, it is desirable to introduce a new train to Guruvayur via. Dindigul – Oddanchatram - Palani – Udumalaipet -Pollachi – Kollengode and Palakkad which will benefit passengers in this region as well. This pair of trains can have link trains between Madurai and Dindigul and thus passengers between Madurai and Guruvayur will get overnight journey.

The existing Chennai Guruvayur train ( Train No. 16127/28 and Tuticorin Link Express No.16129/30) can be split as two trains viz. Chennai – Nagarcoil /Tuticorin Expresses ( the same Train Nos. and the Tuticorin link train bifurcates at Vanchi maniyachi junction) and bogies of the Nagrcoil train can run as Nagarcoil – Guruvayur Express with a fresh Train Number. In the return direction, the Guruvayur – Nagarcoil Express can continue the journey under a different train number as Nagarcoil – Chennai Egmore Express (together with the Link Express bogies from Tuticorin upon amalgamation at the Vanchi maniyachi junction as usual). It is to be noted that passengers from Virudhanagar – Tirunelveli regions can travel to Guruvayur by the Nagarcoil train and continue their journey without changing the compartments while the composition of the Nagarcoil – Guruvayur train is to be with the same bogies. Reservations to/fro these stations are to be facilitated accordingly.

It is desirable to introduce a fresh pair of night trains between Chennai Egmore and Palakkad Junction via. Kollengode - Pollachi - Palani - Dindigul - Trichy - Vridhachalam - Villupuram - Chengelpet ( so called the Trichy - Chennai Egmore chord line) . The existing train fbetween Chennai Central and Palani is so round about through Salem - Namakkal - Karur- Dindigul. The said night trains were introduced through the newly laid Salem - Namakkal - Karur section to cater to the railway needs of passengers in this region. Passengers from Vadakkumcherry, Chittilamcherry, Ayalur, Adiperanda, Thiruvazhiyad, Nenmara, Elavancherry, Vattekkad, Payyallur, Pallassena, Alathur, Kunisseri, Koduvayur and , Pothundy Reservoir-Neliyampathy hill-station region will find a Chennai bound train more convenient from the nearby Kollengode railway station.

The Distance from Chennai Egmore to Palakkad Junction is 611 k.m while the distance between Chennai Central and Palakkad junction is only 538 k.m. Though there is an increased distance of 73 k.m in respect of the rail route through Kollengode - Pollachi – Palani - Dindigul – Trichy – Villupuram sections, it will barely take one hour extra running time but will provide an alternative train service from Palakkad to Chennai, the biggest city in the southern India. These trains will be beneficial to the regular travelers from Pollachi – Udumalaipet – Palani regions as well.

Now the Express trains (Train No. 22652) to Chennai Central though the round-about route via. Palani – Dindigul - Karur – Salem leaves Pollachi at 17.45 p.m, which is too early a departure time for passengers from Pollachi region. Probably the departure cannot be delayed as it will be inconvenient for passengers from intermediate stations like Karur, Namakkal and Salem. Further a delayed departure will haul the train into a traffic saturated schedule in the busy Salem – Chennai section. Let this pair train between Pollachi/Palani and Chennai Central ( extended to Pollachi as a Special train) be continued bestowing more accommodation for passengers from the Karur - Namakkal – Salem section. Further, it will clear the rush of pilgrims to the Palani hill temple despite through the round-about route. Since the said pair train originate/terminate at Chennai Central, the biggest Rail - Terminal of the Southern Railway, it will be convenient for passengers who change trains to/fro other far-off destinations.

A pair of Fast Passenger night train with Sleeper Class bogies can be immediately introduced (drawing a parallel to such trains during the MG era) between Palakkad junction and Rameswaram upon opening the Pollachi - Kollengode - Palakkad stretch after the gauge conversion.

Taking into account the volume of passengers towards Palakkad and beyond, Southern railway must introduce Fast Passenger Trains in the Dindigul - Palakkad branch line and offer connections to the trunk route - superfast trains that pass through Dindigul as well as Palakkad.

It would have been fine if the pending Kollengode - Thrissur line ( fresh BG line) had been sanctioned and made a reality at this time when the full stretch of the Dindigul – Palakkad MG section becomes a BG section upon gauge conversion. Very unfortunate that the Kollengode - Thrissur BG railway line (originally planned as a MG line !) is still pending! The Kollengode - Thrissur line must become a reality which will create a direct chord line between Pollachi and Thrissur and leads to a fresh new rail corridor from Central Tamil Nadu to Thrissur, the Pooram festival city in Central Kerala while the erstwhile MG network are all most converted into BG in this region. This fresh rail corridor from Pollachi to Thrissur by-passing the busy Palakkad will be useful for the faster movement of Containers between Thoothukkudi (Tuticorin) and Kochi Ports.

Kollengode - Thrissur railway which was shelved since the first post-independence survey in 1964 must be undeniably implemented as it will change the face of the Pollachi - Kollengode - Nenmara - Vadakkumcherry - Thrissur region in all respects. The Kollengode - Thrissur line will create a direct chord-line between Thrissur and Pollachi, bypassing the busy Palakkad. Let us hope that both Kerala and Tamil Nadu (though it is within Kerala ) will take note of potentials of Kollengode – Thrissur railway and prevail on the Railway Ministry to make it a reality at the earliest at least through the ensuing Railway Budget 2016-2017..

It is desirable that M.Ps and Central Ministers from Kerala demand for the Kollengode - Thrissur railway line with support from counter parts of Tamil Nadu representing  Madurai, Trichy, Dindigul, Palani, Pollachi regions as people of these regions will also be beneficiaries of the proposed railway line. Up on consolidating strength with proper support from the respective regions of both States, they can jointly prevail on the Railway Ministry to sanction the railway line. It will be better if people of a particular region in Kerala do not agitate in isolation within Kerala. Instead they may tie up support from the people’s forums of neighboring Tamil Nadu. Action Councils based at Nenmara, and Kollengode etc. must form a consortium to jointly formulate agitations. The consortium can open affiliates/sub-councils at places like Pollachi, Udumalaipet, Palani, Oddanchatram and Dindigul with the help of business communities who are engaged in inter-state trade and commerce. They can also involve the Palani Dhadayudhapani Dewasthanam, which control and manage the famous Hill Temple that attracts pilgrims from other states, mainly from Kerala. Guruvayur Dewasam Board can also take an initiative for Kollengode – Thrissur railway line for the cause of pilgrims’ travel. The Railway Ministry will have no option than to heed to the common demand that gets consolidated from different quarters.

No barriers of state should affect the railway line that offers adequate scope to operating round the clock pilgrim shuttle services between Palani and Guruvayur to cover a distance of 176 K.m within four and half hours. Further by operating both Express and Fast Passenger trains through  Dindigul- Palani –Pollachi –Kollengode-Nenmara- Thrissur line connecting trunk-route rail-heads of Tamil Nadu and Kerala ( Maduarai/Tiruchchi/Dindigul and Thrissur/Ernakulam)  will enhance the potential for traffic earnings and optimum utilisation of rolling stocks.

I think that there no much of enthusiastic demand for this railway line from the Thrissur region. This line will entail Thrissur to become a busy railway junction and thus people’s forums and trade associations in Thrissur may have to intensify their demand for the same.

On implementation of the Kollengode- Thrissur railway, pilgrims and tourists will get a   circular route – Palakkad – Podanur – Pollachi – Kollengode – Nenmmara- Thrissur - Shoranur – Ottapalam - Palakkad (255 k.m) comprising two smaller circular sections.

These circular sections will be advantageous for the tourism development of Nelliyampathy ( Kerala) and Valparai ( T.N) Hill stations and many water reservoirs- Pothundy,  Mangalam, Peechi,Vazhani, Malampuzha, Chulliar, Meenkara, Aliar, Sholaiyar, Kadamparai, Nirayar and Parambikkulam. Ultimately the Pollachi - Kollengode- Thrissur chord line will add value to the tourism potential of these hill-stations and nearby dams with gardens, amusement parks, boating lakes, resorts etc. that can be easily accessible by foreign tourists landing at Kochi, Kozhikkode or Coimbatore airports.

Kollengode – Thrissur rail link should never carry the tag of a branch-line while the rail connection establishes an inter-state ‘chord-line’ (89 k.m) from Pollachi to Pooram City Thrissur. It will not be extraneous if Tamil Nadu comes forward initiating for the ‘Chord Line’ between Pollachi and Thrissur even if Kerala is not keen on advocating for the same!
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BG Train travel from Pollachi prior to completion of BG Conversion in the Palakkad – Pollachi erstwhile MG section

BG Train travel from Pollachi prior to completion of BG Conversion in the Palakkad – Pollachi erstwhile MG section  

( Madan Menon Thottasseri)  

Happy to know on the accelerated pace of the gauge conversion in the Palakkad - Kollengode - pollachi section, a part of the Palakkad - Dindigul BG Conversion project. Pollachi - Palani - Dindigul section is already opened for traffic. The Pollachi - Podanur section is under work in progress like the Pollachi -Palakkad section. The palakkad – Dindigul line that gets connected with trunk routes at both ends will add value in respect of traffic earnings to the Palakkad and Madurai divisions in the Southern Railway.

At present the Palakkad - Kolengode - Pollachi BG track laying ( MG to BG Conversion ) is in full swing and Southern Railway is likely to open the line if not by end of April, at least by mid may,2015 once the inspection by Commissioner for Rail Safety is over. The significance of the Palakkad - Kollengode - Pollachi - Udumalaipet- Palani - Dindigul BG line is enormous mainly due to the fact that it creates direct rail link between Central Tamil Nadu to West Coast cities - Goa, Mumbai etc via. Palakkad, Kozhikkode, Mangalore etc( through Konkan Railway from Mangalore).

Once the Dindigul – Palakkad section becomes operational upon opening the pending portion of the Pollachi junction – Kollengode – Palakkad Town – Palakkad junction line, a new pair of trains offering overnight journey from Chennai to Guruvayur can be introduced. Of course currently those who travel directly to Guruvayur opt for overnight trains to Thrissur ( by Trains to Ernakulam, Alleppy, Thiruvananthapuram via. Erode -Palakkad and even get a connection train from there to Guruvayur, just 22 km away).

Since availability of accommodation upto Thrissur will be less, it is desirable to introduce a new train to Guruvayur via. Dindigul – Oddanchatram - Palani – Udumalaipet -Pollachi – Kollengode and Palakkad which will benefit passengers in this region as well.  This pair of trains can have link trains beween Madurai and Dindigul and thus passengers between Madurai and Guruvayur will get overnight journey. The train from Chennai Egmore can be scheduled to leave around 18.00 pm which will arrive Dindigul at 1.00 hours while the Link train from Madurai say leaving at  00.00 hours will reach Dindigul at 1.00 hours. Both trains can be amalgamated at Dindigul. The composition of train can be with half the number of SL and AC coaches allocated between the main train from Chennai Egmore and the Link train fro Madurai. If the train leaves Dindigul at 1.15 it may reach Palani at 2.45 hours Pollachi at 4. 00, Kollengode at  4.45, Palakkad 5.15, Thrissur at 6.30 and Guruvayur at 7.00 hours. In the return direction, the train can be scheduled to leave Guruvayur at 19.00 hours while it will reach Thrissur at 19.30, Palakkad at 20.45, Kollengode at 21.15, Pollachi at 22.30, Palani at 23.45 and Dindigul at 01.15. The Madurai link train can be given more stoppage time at Dindigul and can be scheduled to leave around 2.15 and reach Madurai 3.30 hours. The Train towards Chennai can leave around 2.00 hours reaching Chennai Egmore at 9.00 hours. 

The existing Chennai Guruvayur train ( Train No. 16127/28 and Tuticorin Link Express No.16129/30) can be converted into two trains as Chennai – Nagarcoil /Tuticorin Expresses ( the same Train Nos. and the Tuticorin link train bifurcates at Vanchi Maniyachi junction) and bogies of the Nagrcoil train can run as Nagarcoil – Guruvayur Express with a fresh Train Number. In the return direction, the Guruvayur – Nagarcoil Express can continue the journey as Nagarcoil – Chennai Egmore Express together with the Link Express bogies from Tuticorin amalgamated at the Vanchi maniyachi junction as usual.  

It is to be noted that passengers from Virudhanagar – Tirunelveli regions can travel to Guruvayur by the Nagarcoil train and continue their journey without changing the compartments while the composition of the Nagarcoil – Guruvayur train is to be with the same bogies. Reservations to/fro these stations are to be facilitated accordingly.

The recently introduced Palani Express train ( Train No. 22651; up to Pollachi as a Special Train ) to Chennai Central run through the round-about route  via. Palani – Karur – Salem. In the return direction, it  leaves Pollachi at 17.45 p.m, which is too early a departure time for passengers from Pollachi region. Probably the departure cannot be delayed as it will be inconvenient for passengers from intermediate stations like Karur, Namakkal and Salem. Further a delayed departure will haul the train into a traffic saturated schedule in the busy Salem – katpadi - Arakkonam - Chennai section. In fact this pair train is  ideally to be operated between Chennai Egmore and Palani, via. Chengelpet -Villupuram – Vridhachalam- Tiruchchi (Trichy) – Dindigul, the shortest route and thus the distance and journey time would be considerably reduced. Unfortunately these trains were introduced through Salem – Namakkal – Karur – Dindigul in last year so as to ply a train through the newly laid Salem – Namakkal – Karur line then and cater to the needs of people in this section. Chennai Egmore – Palani is with a distance of 490 km via. Villupuram – Tiruchirappalli - Dindigul while Chennai Central – Palani via. Arakkonam - Katpadi - Jolarpet -Salem – Namakkel - Karur –Dindigul is with a distance of 552 km. Though round about by 62 km, Chennai Central– Palani train will help Chennaites to have an over night direct journey without alighting at Dindigul, to the pilgrim centre. Further it will be convenient for passengers coming from outstations and alighting at Chennai Central to have a convenient onward journey to   Palani, the abode of God Balasubramanya situated in the hill temple.

( I did travel by this train on 19^th April, 2015 from Palani.  I have come from Chennai to my village inpalakad district on 16^th April,2015. I had decided to travel by the Palani – Chennai Express on my return journey as reservation was not available from Palakkad in Chennai bound night trains. On 19^th April 2015 I reached Pollachi too early in the afternoon and the climate was very scorching and sultry. The Pollachi – Palani – Madurai passenger train was ready to leave the platform at 15.15. Thus instead of waiting for the Chennai Train leaving at 16.45 ( avoided waiting at the Platform at Pollachi Junction while the Chennai Train compartments were not unlocked), I boarded on the Madurai train and travelled up to Palani. The breeze in the valley of western-ghats in the Pollachi – Udumalaipet – Palani stretch was fine and I had my first BG train journey in this section! The train reached Palani on time at 16.55.  At Palani, the climate was fine in the evening with good breeze and the Chennai Express reached on time at 18.10 from Pollachi by the time I had refreshments and a nice Tea at the restaurant in Platform No.1. The Reservation e-ticket I had was from Palani. The train arrived Chennai Central at at scheduled time 4.15 am on the next day, 20^th April 2015.)

A pair of Fast Passenger night trains with Sleeper Class bogies can be immediately introduced drawing a parallel to such trains during the MG era between Polachi junction and Rameswaram. These trains can be operated between palakkad and Rameswaram upon opening the Pollachi - Kollengode - Palakkad stretch for traffic after the gauge conversion. Of course, taking into account the volume of passengers towards Palakkad and beyond, Southern railway can also introduce a couple of Fast Passenger Trains as well in the Dindigul - Palakkad branch line and offer connections to the trunk route- superfast trains that pass through Dindigul as well as Palakkad.

It would have been fine if the pending Kollengode - Thrissur line (fresh BG line) had been sanctioned and made a reality at this time when the full stretch of the Dindigul – Palakkad MG section becomes a BG section upon gauge conversion and ready for operation of train services. Very unfortunate that the Kollengode - Thrissur railway (fresh BG line to be constructed) is still pending! The Kollengode - Thrissur line must become a reality which will create a direct chord line between Pollachi and Thrissur and leads to a fresh new rail corridor from Central Tamil Nadu to Thrissur, the Pooram festival city in Central Kerala while the erstwhile MG network are all most converted into BG in this region. It is to be noted that Dindigul is a big Railway Junction having connectivity to Trichy, Thajore, Pondicherry, Chennai etc towards the east; Madurai - Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Nagarcoil, kanyakumari etc. towards south-west and Karur, Salem, Bangalore etc towards north-east. The Palani - Pollachi - Palakkad/Podanur section is towards north from Dindigul.

Kollengode - Thrissur railway which was shelved since the first post-independence survey in 1964 must be undeniably implemented as it will change the face of the Pollachi - Kollengode - Nenmara - Vadakkumcherry - Thrissur region in all respects. The Kollengode - Thrissur line will create a direct chord-line between Thrissur and Pollachi, bypassing the busy Palakkad. Let us hope that both Kerala and Tamil Nadu ( though it is within Kerala ) will take note of potentials of Kollengode – Thrissur railway and prevail on the Railway Ministry to make it a reality at the earliest. 

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Gauge conversion over, thus trains running till Palani getting extended to Pollachi

(Madan Menon Thottasseri)

( Palakkad - Kollengode - Pollachi and Pollachi - Podanur MG sections still under gauge conversions shown in in BLUE LINES. The Kollengode - Thrissur line, pending for implementation is shown in BLACK LINES) 

It is very much cheering news to the people of Pollachi and nearby places including towns like Kollengode in the neighbouring Kerala State as the gauge conversion in the Palani – Pollachi stretch (67 k.m) is completed while the rail section upon BG conversion did undergo the CRS Inspection including Speed Trial Run entailing the introduction of trains. Since the gauge conversion in the Podanur – Pollachi is inordinately delayed; there is no chance to extending one or two pair of trains to Pollachi, especially those originating/ terminating at Coimbatore like Cheran Express and Chennai – Coimbatore Kovai Express.

Happy to learn that the Madurai Division had proposed to the railway board to extend three trains, namely Madurai – Palani ; Tiruchendur – Madurai – Palani ( bothPassengers) ; and Chennai Central – Salem – Namakal – Karur - Dindigul – Palani Express to Pollachi.

People of Pollachi region will never get any benefit from a train towards Chennai via. Palani – Dindigul- Karur- Salem route. The Chennai- Palani (to/fro) Express trains are already round-about since there is no direct rail-link between Karur to Palani. In fact these trains are ideally to be operated between Chennai Egmore and Palani, via. Chengelpet -Villupuram – Vridhachalam- Tiruchchi (Trichy) – Dindigul, the shortest route and thus the distance and journey time would be considerably reduced. Unfortunately these trains were introduced through Salem – Namakkal – Karur – Dindigul in last year so as to ply a train through the newly laid Salem – Namakkal – Karur line then and cater to the needs of people in this section.  The conversion project in the Podanur – Pollachi stretch is to be implemented as soon as possible and extend Chennai bound trains from Coimbatore mentioned above. Rameswaram/Madurai trains from Coimbatore are also to be operated after the gauge conversion of 40km long Pollachi – Podanur line.

A pair of Fast Passenger night trains with Sleeper Class bogies can be immediately introduced (drawing a parallel to such trains during the MG era) and can be lateron made as Palakkad – Rameswaram trains after the gauge conversions in the Pollachi – Palakkad stretch.

The conversion work in the pending stretch of Pollachi Jn. – Kollengode – Palakkad Jn. ( 58 k.m; PGT Town – PGT Jn. 5 km line is in BG-MG Mixed-Gauge) is very significant as it will be the last phase of the Palakkad – Dindigul B.G conversion project. The ongoing conversion works in the stretch is to be expedited so that Southern Railway can make it feasible to operate express trains between Alappuza, Ernakulam, Guruvayur, Mangalore, Kannur, Palakkad and temple towns like Palani, Madurai, Rameswaram, Thiruchchi (Trichy) , Nagore, and Velankkanni in Tamil Nadu. As per the scheduled programme, the gauge conversion work in Palani – Pollachi- Palakkad section has to be finished on or before 31st March, 2013. The project had overrun time and cost!

I did see in news reports in a vernacular news paper on the 6th anniversary of the closure of PGT - Pollachi MG section and cessation of train service to facilitate gauge conversion. Train services were stopped on 10th Dec,2008 then. The ongoing gauge conversion project is very much behind the schedule. The Kollengode Passengers association had organized a protest meeting on 10^th December,2014 to condemn the slow pace of project development. They have doubts on the commissioning of the rail section for resumption of train services ( in the BG track) in April,2015 as promised by the Southern Railway.

It is to be noted that a direct rail corridor from Pollachi to Thrissur ( a Chord line) by-passing the busy Palakkad will be emerged out if the pending Kollengode - Thrissur railway line becomes a reality which will be useful for the faster movement of Containers between Tuticorin and Cochin Ports. It is very distressing to note that the Kollengode - Thrissur railway project was ignored by the railway ministry for the past 50 years! The long pending proposal for a new line between Kollengode, the erstwhile tiny realm and Thrissur, the city of pooram festivals, will be significant for the B.G conversion project in the Palakkad- Pollachi- Dindigul route aimed to facilitate shortest route to temple towns of south Tamil Nadu from Malabar and Cochin regions of Kerala. A traffic survey for connecting Kollengode and Thrissur (B.G) was done during 1964-65 by the distinguished Padmashree P.N.Baskaran Nair (late) who simultaneously surveyed the Salem- Bangalore and Hassan – Mangalore lines. In fact this was the second survey, as the initial survey conducted during the pre-independence period in mid forties already went unnoticed. The line was resurveyed in the year 2007 and even allocated funds for the project.

It is very significant that the proposed Kollengode – Thrissur line passes through Nenmara, the gate-way of Nelliyampathy Hill- Station. Nelliyampathy is an upcoming tourist destination and also an ideal out-door shooting location for movie makers in Southern India.

The present Nenmara town is constituted by the erstwhile old twin villages, presently towns - Nenmara and Vallanghy. These towns are better known for spectacular show of elephants’ parade and fireworks displayed at the Nenmara- Vallenghy Vela Festival, held in the first week of April every year. This festival attracts not only people of people of Cochin- Malabar regions or Coimbatore- Pollachi- Tiruppur regions of neighbouring Tamil Nadu, but also tourists from bigger cities like Chennai and Bangalore. Of late, foreign tourists visiting Kerala during the month of April are wooed by Tourist Operators to see the spectacular festival.The said rail link between Kollengode and Thrissur will give a face-lift to the paddy-cultivation and trading centers covered under Chulliyar, Pothundy, Mangalam and Peechi irrigation projects. Boat rides in Peechi, close to Thrissur and Pothundy reservoirs are popular. The other two reservoirs are close to Kollengode. It will be an enchanting journey by a train that chugs through the beautiful countryside surrounded by thick lush of paddy fields, Coconut and areca-nut farms, rubber plantations and picturesque hills!

If the new line between Kollengode and Thrissur is made possible, it will establish the shortest route from Madurai/Tiruchcchi regions in Central Tamil Nadu to the Cochin regions of Kerala state. Trains between the Madurai/Tiruchchi and Thrissur, Guruvayur, Ernakulam, Alleppy etc. can be operated through Pollachi – Kollengode – Thrissur route, by-passing the traffic saturated Palakkad – Ottappalam – Shoranur/ Thrissur sections. Trains towards Malabar region, Mangalore and beyond through Konakan railways to Uduppi, Goa, Mumbai etc. can move through Pollachi- Kollengode- Thrissur- Shoranur Jn. as well as through Pollachi-Kolengode – Palakkad - Shoranur. In reality the gauge conversion in the Dindigul – Palakkad sector and also the new line between Kollengode and Thrissur will facilitate Tamil Nadu to become one of the major beneficiary states of the Konkan Railways.

The distance from Tiruchchi (Trichy) to Thrissur, Guruvayur or Ernakulam/Cochin ( via. Manappara- Dindigul – Palani – Udumalaipettai- Pollachi – Kollengode - Nenmara- Vadakkumcherry- Kuthiran-Pattikkad - Mannuthy-Thrissur) will be less by 69 k.m when compared with the present round-about Tiruchchi- Karur -Erode – Podanur- Palakkad – Ottapalam – Wadakkancherry – Thrissur route.

Further in future, the Thrissur- Nenmara – Kollengode - Pollachi- Podanur B.G.sections (129 k.m) will serve as an alternative route to the busy Thrissur- Palakkad Jn. – Podanur  Jn. (125 k.m), a double-lined trunk section. Despite lengthier by 4 km, Southern Railways will find this route through the valley of Nelliyampathy hills as a ‘third line’ between Podanur and Thrissur, as it by-passes the busy Palakkad Jn.! Also, once the Guruvayur –Thirunavaya or Tanur railway line becomes reality, the Pollachi- Kollengode – Thrissur- Guruvayur – Tanur/Thrunavaya stretch will enable operation of trains between cities and pilgrim centers of central Tamil Nadu and west-coast cities like Kozhikode, Kannur and places beyond like Mangalore, Goa, Mumbai etc. through Konkan line, bypassing the busy Palakkad - Shoranur stretch.

Kollengode – Thrissur, the proposed new railway line that facilitates a straight rail-route between Pollachi and Thrissur offers adequate scope to operating round the clock pilgrim shuttle services between Palani and Guruvayur to cover a distance of 176 K.m within four and half hours. Further by operating both Express and Fast Passenger trains through  Dindigul- Palani –Pollachi –Kollengode-Nenmara- Thrissur line connecting trunk-route railheads of Tamil Nadu and Kerala ( Maduarai/Tiruchchi/Dindigul and Thrissur/Ernakulam)  will enhance the potential for traffic earnings and optimum utilisation of rolling stocks.

On implementation of the Kollengode- Thrissur railway, pilgrims and tourists will get a   big circular route, Palakkad – Podanur – Pollachi – Kollengode – Nenmmara- Thrissur - Shoranur – Ottapalam - Palakkad (255 k.m) comprising two smaller circular sections, viz. Palakkad – Kollengode – Nenmara – Thrissur – Shoranur – Palakkad; and Palakkad – Podanur – Pollachi – Kollengode – Pudunagaram – Palakkad.

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Expectations on B.G Conversion in the pending stretch of Pollachi – Kollengode – Palakkad ( 58 k.m) as well as the Kollengode – Thrissur (54 k.m), a Green Rail Corridor for Value Addition of Tourism in Nenmara and Nelliyampathy Hill station.

( Madan Menon Thottasseri )

Happy to know now that the gauge conversion in the Palani – Pollachi stretch (67 k.m) is completed and just underwent the CRS Inspection including Speed Trial Run entailing the introduction of trains in the section. CRS (Commissioner of Railway Safety, Southern Circle, Bangalore) Satish Kumar Mittal conducted a speed trial run in the newly converted Palani-Pollachi broad gauge section here on Tuesday, 25^th November, 2014.

The Commissioner did travel on a loco train from Palani to Udumalpet for checking the track and lateron continued his inspection on a trolley towards Pollachi for on-the-spot inspection. After inspecting signals, level crossings and stations between Udumalpet and Pollachi, the Commissioner conducted a non-stop speed trial from Pollachi to Palani, covering a distance of 80 km in less than an hour. In the return direction, the inspection special train left Pollachi at 3.32 p.m. and reached Palani at 4.21 p.m!

                 (Speed trial run being conducted on the newly laid Palani-Pollachi broad gauge track in Palani on 25.11.2014)

The inspection special train did run at a maximum speed of 120 km to test the strength of the track. The speed trial became the last phase of inspection before introduction of trains. Of course only y, goods and local passenger trains would be permitted to run for few months prior to the operation of express trains in this section. On the basis information collected through various parameters during inspection and technical report, the Commissioner would certify the track. Later, operation of trains would commence, positively by the end next month, they added.

Madurai Divisional Railway Manager A.K. Rastogi, Construction Organisation Chief Administrative Officer R. Venkadasamy, Chief Engineer (Construction) Prafulla Verma, Chief Signal and Telecom Engineer Ajith Kumar, Deputy Chief Engineers Sarangapani and Ramakrishnan, Senior Divisional Safety Officer A. Ravichandran and others officials had accompanied CRS- Satish Kumar Mittal.

The conversion work in the pending stretch of Pollachi – Kollengode – Palakkad ( 58 k.m) is very significant as it will be the last phase of the Palakkad – Dindigul B.G conversion project. The ongoing conversion works in the stretch is to be expedited so that Southern Railway can make it feasible to operate express trains between Alappuza, Ernakulam, Guruvayur, Mangalore, Kannur, Palakkad and temple towns like Palani,Madurai,Rameswaram, Thiruchchi (Trichy) , Nagore, and Velankkanni in Tamil Nadu.As per the scheduled programme, the gauge conversion work in Palani – Pollachi- Palakkad section has to be finished on or before 31st March, 2013. The project had overrun time and cost!

At this juncture let me mention about a a direct rail corridor from Pollachi to Thrissur by-passing the busy Palakkad as well. This direct rail link, as a chord line between Pollachi will be availed if the pending Kollengode – Thrissur railway line becomes a reality. This short route will be useful for the faster movement of Containers between Tuticorin and Cochin Ports. Due to its proximity to the Western Ghats, Pollachi has cool climate in all seasons. South India’s biggest cattle market and Asia’s largest jaggery and vegetable markets are popular in Pollachi. In fact the central Kerala depends on Pollachi for Vegetable, kitchen provisions etc. The rail link between Thrissur and Pollachi will have blooming prospects for optimum utilisation of rolling stock and augmentation of traffic earnings. The decades’ pending project of Kollengode - Thrissur railway is not implemented for incomprehensible reasons!

The distance from Tiruchchi to Thrissur, Guruvayur or Ernakulam/Cochin ( via. Dindigul – Palani – Pollachi – Kollengode - Nenmara- Vadakkumcherry- Mannuthy - Thrissur/304 k.m) will be less by 69 k.m when compared with the present round-about Tiruchchi- Karur - Erode – Podanur- Palakkad – Ottapalam – Wadakkancherry – Thrissur (373 k.m) route.

In future, the Thrissur- Nenmara – Kollengode - Pollachi- Podanur B.G.sections (129 k.m), will serve as an alternative route to the busy Thrissur- Palakkad Jn. – Podanur Jn. (125 k.m) double-lined trunk section. Thus Southern Railways can treat this route through the valley of Nelliyampathy hills, lengthier by just 4 k.m as a ‘third line’ between Podanur and Thrissur, while it enables to skip the traffic saturated Palakkad Junction. Also, once the Guruvayur – Thirunavaya or Tanur railway line becomes reality, the Pollachi- Kollengode – Thrissur- Guruvayur – Tanur/Thrunavaya stretch will enable operation of trains between cities and pilgrim centers of central Tamil nadu and west-coast cities like Kozhikode, Kannur and places beyond like Mangalore, Goa, Mumbai etc. through Konkan line, bypassing the busy Palakkad - Shoranur stretch.

The Pollachi – Thrissur chord line ( instead of the round-about link through Palakkad) will be advantageous for the tourism development of Nelliyampathy (Kerala), Valparai ( T.N), Top Slip ( T.N) Hill stations.

Being a short distance of approx. 54 k.m, the Ministry of Railways can still incorporate the proposed Kollengode -Thrissur B.G line in the Railway Budget 2014-15 and simultaneously release adequate funds for the early implementation of the new line. The proposal to link Kollengode in the Pollachi- Palakkad section under B.G conversion, with Thrissur, the city of pooram festivals via. Nenmmara, Ayalur Road, Chittillamcherry, Mudappallur( For Mangalam Dam), Vadakkumcherry , Kuthiran, Pattikkad ( for Peechi Reservoir) and Mannuthy was neglected and kept in the cold storage for the past five  decades.

It is very noteworthy that the proposed Kollengode – Thrissur line passes through Nenmara, the gate-way of Nelliyampathy Hill- Station the upcoming tourist destination and an ideal out-door shooting location for movie makers.

             (The proposed Kollengode - Thrissur Railway shown in black lines)


The present Nenmara town is constituted by the erstwhile twin villages which are better known from the name of popular ‘vela’ festival- the Nenmara- Vallenghy Vela , held in the first week of April every year. This festival attracts people of Cochin- Malabar regions and Coimbatore - Pollachi – Tiruppur- Palani regions of neighboring Tamil Nadu. Even tourists from bigger cities like Chennai,Bangalore, Mumbai etc. including foreign tourists visiting Kerala during the months of March- April are enticed by travel industry to witness the spectacular festival which is rated at par with Thrissur Pooram. The said rail link between Kollengode and Thrissur will give a face-lift to the paddy-cultivation and trading centers covered under Chulliyar, Pothundy, Mangalam and Peechi irrigation projects. Cruise rides in Peechi and Pothundy reservoirs are popular. It will be an enchanting journey by a train that chugs through the beautiful countryside surrounded by thick lush of paddy fields, coconut – areca nut farms, rubber plantations and picturesque hills!

The Nelliyampathy hills with amazing varieties of flora and fauna, around 65 km from Palakkad and 45 k.m from Nenmara is situated at a height of 467 meters to 1572 meters at the highest peak. The Hill station is comprised of a chain of ridges separated by valleys of dense, evergreen virgin forests and orange plantations. There are more than a dozen hair-pin bends on the ghat road from Pothundy Dam passing through the jungles of Sahyadri ranges. Nelliyampathi’s forest regions are sanctified with wild animals like elephants, leopards, hill squirrels, bisons and a wide spectrum of bird life.

Nelliyampathy is also the perfect location for eco tourism and farm tourism. The sprawling tea gardens, coffee, cardamom and orange plantation add beauty to this destination at all seasons. Studies had revealed that a rich civilization existed in Nelliyampathy during Tamil Sangam era. Certain view-points en-route to the hill station  offer a splendid sight of the Palakkad Gap, which is a geographical phenomenon in the Western Ghats formation, showing the  extensive paddy fields of the Palakkad district and adjoining Coimbatore-Pollachi regions forming a verdant carpet.

Seethakundu waterfall with a height of 100 meters is an added attraction from where tourists can have a nice valley sight. Padagiri, the highest peak situated on Nellikotta mountain ranges is the trekkers’ paradise. Trekking is possible to reach Mampara as well for beautiful valley sight. Even Pollacchi and Valparai can be seen from there. Nenmara town and Pothundy reservoir can be seen from yet another view point – Kesavanpara. There are private operators offering Night-Safari to see wild animals, especially elephants; but must be beware of one fuming elephant roaming around to charge anything on its sight!

A Green Rail Corridor for Value Addition of Tourism in Nelliyampathy:

           
                                            ( A valley view  from Nelliyampathy)

Kerala, boasting with the tag of “God’s Own Country” could register a success story while offering resorts by the side of back-waters with facilities for cruise  boating, sail and stay in house-boats,  in-house Ayurveda health-centers in resorts etc. which are very much acclaimed by tourists from all continents. While it prudently gives thrust for Ayurveda and Back-water oriented tourism to woo maximum number of class tourists to the state, it is desirable to consider launch of a special campaigns- ‘Tea Garden Tourism” for locations like Munnar and Nelliyampathy. Campaign for  “Festival  Tourism” may be feasible for attracting tourists to exclusive colorful festivals wherein there will be elephants’ parade, traditional drum recitals and display of fire-works at Thrissur Pooram, Nenmmara-Vallanghy Vela etc.

Tourism campaign for Nenmmara- Vallanghy Vela festival can be clubbed with that of Nelliyampathy, the hill-station with tea gardens, orange farms and cardamom estates. Nenmmara is connected by road with Palakkad, the district headquarters through two or three routes with distances around 20 k.m. The town in the valley of the hill station is actually lying in the middle of Pollachi- Vadakkumcherry- Nenmmara -Thrissur Inter- State route merged with NH-47 at Vadakkumcherry. The distances by road from Nenmara to Pollachi towards east and to Thrissur towards west are 49 k.m each.

Pothundy Dam, just 6 k.m away from Nenmmara, which is constructed at the start off ‘Ayalur( Ayiloor) River’, a sub-tributary of Bharathapuzha is an ideal recreation location with gardens. Boat rides are offered in the vast reservoir to attract tourists. This dam is having a unique status as ‘second largest in Asia without using cement-mixture’. The Kerala government may have to plan for construction of adequate tourist resorts and budget motels at Nelliyampathy, Pothundy, Nenmara and Kollengode. There will be a good potential to install cable car service between the gardens in the Pothundy Dam to Nelliyampathy Hill station to boost tourism. The Kerala Tourism can avail the technology transfer from one of the best global companies for the same.

Though the Kollengode Railway station is the nearest rail-head for Nenmmara and Nelliyampathy, due to the proximity, it had not served the purpose much by the rail connectivity through  Kollengode, the Palakkad – Kollengode – Pollachi M.G Line, part of the M.G. network  in  Palakkad – Kollengode - Pollachi – Palani – Dindigul and Polachi – Podanur sections in the region. This branch line under B.G conversion has potential for linking with trunk routes at three junctions, viz. Palakkad, Podanur and Dindigul. The pending project, Kollengode – Thrissur Rail link enabling linkage between major trunk routes of Southern Railway at Dindigul and Thrissur, will enhance the potential for traffic earnings and optimum utilisation of rolling-stocks.

Ultimately the Kollengode- Thrissur line will add value to the tourism potential of Nelliyampathy Hill station. If implemented, Nelliyampathy will be easily accessible to foreign tourists landing at Cochin, Calicut or Coimbatore airports as they can reach the entryway of the hill station - Nenmara town by a train.

Tourists camping at Nelliyampathy can be brought down to the valley to see the spectacular show of elephants’ parade and colourful fire works displayed in the Nenmmara-Vallenghy Vela festival. Together with Nenmmara and Vallengy, many villages like Ayalur (Ayiloor), Chittillamcherry, Cheramangalam, Mudapallur, Vadakkumcherry, Pallavoor constitute an enclave of Vela- Kanyarkali festivals in the months of April-May every year. Kanyarkali festivals are performed in temple premises from desk to dawn and it provides all ingredients of folk-dance-dramas that can attract intellectuals to laymen amongst tourists. 

It is not an exaggeration to say that during the festival season, in this enclave of festivals in Palakkad district, not even a single day passes without celebrations involving processions by adorned elephants accompanied by drum recitals like Chendamelams, Panchavadyams etc. and colourful fire-works at least in a couple of temples.

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B.G trains in the offing at Pollachi while Palani – Pollachi B.G line awaits CRS inspection! When will the B.G conversion in the Pollachi – Kollengode - Palakkad M.G section be over enabling B.G trains chug through the same? What is the fate of Kollengode – Thrissur B.G railway line that was shelved for 50 years?

(Madan Menon Thottasseri        email: tmadan.menon@gmail.com )

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The only sign of progress in the gauge conversion in the Dindigul – Palani - Pollachi – Kollengode - Palakkad section is the completion of M.G to B.G conversion in the 59 k.m stretch between Dindigul and Palani which was opened for traffic by introduction of Passenger trains on 20th November,2012. This is just a small part of the above said Dindigul – Palakkad Jn.(180 k.m) and Pollachi – Podanur (40 k.m) M.G sections wherein rail traffic in these M.G stretches were closed for gauge conversions since December,2008. There was no adequate allocation of funds for the conversion project in the region. Just a 6 k.m long Coimbatore-Podanur section (M.G. parallel to B.G line) alone was only converted into B.G. until 2012 in this stretch.

Happy to know now that the gauge conversion in the Palani – Pollachi stretch (67 k.m) is completed waiting for the CRS Inspection so as to facilitate running of trains in the section.  Conversion work in the pending stretch of Pollachi – Kollengode – Palakkad ( 58 k.m) is to be expedited so that Southern Railway can make it feasible to operate express trains between Alappuza (Alleppy);Ernakulam;Guruvayur;Mangalore;Kozikkode(Calicut);Palakkad and temple towns like Palani,Madurai,Rameswaram, Thiruchchi (Trichy) , Nagore, and Velankkanni in Tamil Nadu. The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) will inspect the recently completed broad gauge line on the Palani-Pollachi section on November on 24 and 25 as reported by the Times of India today ( 9^th November,2014).  CRS certification will entail the section to run goods trains initially and passenger traffic will be made possible only after few months.

Pollachi – Kollengode - Palakkad Town – Palakkad Junction M.G section under B.G conversion is 58 k.m (35+23) while it includes the 5 k.m long Mixed-Gauge ( M.G and B.G together) section between Palakkad Town and Palakkad Junction. Currently some B.G trains are originated/terminated at Palakkad Town.

I have taken note of two recent instances that had caused further delay of the B.G conversion in the Pollachi – Palakkad stretch. Inetially there was an issue in respect of earth filling for railway lines under the conversion projects (also for for National High-ways’ developmental works) when State Environment Impact Assessment Authority

(SEIAA) had not given instant permission for facilitating the same. I have rightly put forth opinions in online editions of news-papers in end August, 2014 requesting the SEIAA to convene a special sitting exclusively for clearing these applications that entail instantaneous attention to avoid delay in execution of railway projects like Palakkad – Pollachi gauge conversion work which is expected to be made ready by December, 2014 for trial run in the B.G line. I presume that the state government did seek cooperation of the SEIAA to facilitate the implementation of the said gauge conversion in the the Kerala – Tamil Nadu inter-state rail corridor which is one of the most important developmental projects in peninsular plateau of southern India.

The second impediment was in the last month (October,2014) when workers in Kerala were on strike and have even demanded the so called ‘Nokkukooli’ (Gawking wages or wages for just looking on!) since skilled laborers were deployed for technical jobs like welding of tracks.  Of course I have commented against this cautioning that the abnormally delayed B.G conversion project will overrun cost and time. It was rather hooliganism to prevent the implementation of the project by obstinately insisting on employment of local unskilled and unqualified/inexperienced labourers wherein certain the technical jobs are to be necessarily done by skilled and experienced/qualified labourers. I wanted Kerala government to  immediately interfere even through the judicial track (with a court order etc.) and facilitate uninterrupted deployment of skilled labourers, let them be from any region enabling the timely completion of the gauge conversion project in the Palakkad - Pollachi section. Fortunately last week I could see news report about the withdrawal of the strike and resumption of welding works. I hope that  people’s forums in the region that are keenly advocating for the early completion of the project for resumption of rail traffic must come forward and persecute such trade unions that thwart developmental projects like railway gauge conversion, high-way construction etc.

There is a long pending proposal for a new line between Kollengode (lying in the Pollachi - Palakkad M.G section under gauge conversion), the erstwhile tiny realm and Thrissur, the city of pooram festivals, which is actually very much significant for the B.G conversion project in the Palakkad- Pollachi- Dindigul route aimed to facilitate shortest route to temple towns of south Tamil Nadu from Malabar and Cochin regions of Kerala. A traffic survey for connecting Kollengode and Thrissur (B.G) was done during 1964-65 by the distinguished Padmashree P.N.Baskaran Nair (late) who simultaneously surveyed the Salem- Bangalore and Hassan – Mangalore lines. In fact this was the second survey, as the initial survey conducted during the pre-independence period in mid forties already went unnoticed. The line was resurveyed in the year 2007. It is very significant that the proposed Kollengode – Thrissur line passes through Nenmara, the gate-way of Nelliyampathy Hill- Station which is one of the fast emergent tourist destinations in the state of Kerala. It is noteworthy that the present Nenmara town is constituted by the erstwhile twin villages which are better known from the name of popular ‘vela’ festival- the Nenmara- Vallenghy Vela , held in the first week of April every year. This festival attracts not only people of Kerala and the neighboring Tamil Nadu. Tourists from bigger cities visiting Kerala during the months of March- April are enticed by travel industry based in cities in the region like Coimbatore, Kochi and Calicut to witness the spectacular festival which is rated at par with Thrissur Pooram. The said rail link between Kollengode and Thrissur will give a face-lift to the paddy-cultivation and trading centers covered under Chulliyar, Pothundy, Mangalam and Peechi irrigation projects. Cruise rides in Peechi and Pothundy reservoirs are popular. It will be an enchanting journey by a train that chugs through the beautiful countryside surrounded by thick lush of paddy fields, coconut – arecanut farms, rubber plantations and picturesque hills!

It is to be noted that a direct rail corridor from Pollachi to Thrissur ( 54 k.m Chord-line) by-passing the busy Palakkad will be emerged out if the pending Kollengode - Thrissur railway line becomes a reality which will be useful for the faster movement of Containers between Tuticorin and Cochin Ports. It is very distressing to note that the Kollengode - Thrissur railway project was ignored by the Railway Ministry for the past 50 years!

Due to its proximity to the Western Ghats, Pollachi has cool climate in all seasons. South India’s biggest cattle market and Asia’s largest jiggery and vegitable market are popular in Pollachi. In fact the central Kerala depends on Pollachi for Vegitable, kitchen provisions etc. The rail link from Pollachi towards Thrissur, Palakkad and Podanur/Coimbatore, all lying in trunk rail routes will have blooming prospects for optimum utilisation of rolling stock and augmentation of traffic earnings in the Palakkad and Madurai railway divisions.

The distance from Tiruchchi to Thrissur, Guruvayur or Ernakulam/Kochi ( via. Manapparai - Dindigul – oddanchatram – Palani - Udumalaipet -  Pollachi – Kollengode - Nenmara- Vadakkumcherry- Mannuthy - Thrissur/304 k.m) will be less by 69 k.m when compared with the present round-about Tiruchchi- Karur - Erode – Podanur- Palakkad – Ottapalam – Wadakkancherry – Thrissur (373 k.m) route.

Further in future, the Thrissur- Nenmara – Kollengode - Pollachi- Podanur B.G.sections (129 k.m), will serve as an alternative route to the busy Thrissur- Palakkad Jn. – Podanur Jn. (125 k.m) double-lined trunk section. Thus Southern Railways can treat this route through the valley of Nelliyampathy hills, lengthier by just 4 k.m  as a ‘third line’ between Podanur and Thrissur, while it enables to skip the traffic saturated Palakkad Junction.

The Pollachi – Thrissur chord line (instead of the round-about link through Palakkad) will be advantageous for the tourism development of Nelliyampathy (Kerala), Valparai (T.N), Top Slip (T.N) Hill stations and many water reservoirs- Pothundy,  Mangalam, Peechi,Vazhani, Malampuzha, Chulliar, Meenkara, Aliar, Sholaiyar, Kadamparai, Nirayar and Parambikkulam. It will not be extraneous if Tamil Nadu comes forward initiating for the Kollengode – Thrissur railway line enabling a straight line (Chord Line) between Pollachi and Thrissur even if Kerala is not very keen on advocating for the same.

Ultimately the Kollengode- Thrissur rail link will add value to the tourism potential of Hill stations mentioned above. If implemented, Nelliyampathy will be easily accessible to foreign tourists landing at Kochi, Kozikkode and Coimbatore airports as they can reach the entryway of the hill station - Nenmara town by a train. Valparai and Top Slip will be accessible through Pollachi via. Thrissur – Pollachi, Palakkad – Pollachi, Coimbatore – Podanur - Pollachi routes. 

No barriers of state should affect the railway line that offers adequate scope to operating round the clock pilgrim shuttle services between Palani and Guruvayur to cover a distance of 176 K.m within four and half hours. Both Express and Fast Passenger trains can be operated through Dindigul- Palani –Pollachi –Kollengode-Nenmara- Thrissur line connecting rail-heads in trunk-routes of Tamil Nadu and Kerala (Maduarai/Dindigul/Thiruchchi and Thrissur/Ernakulam) respectively.

I think that there no much of enthusiastic demand for this railway line from the Thrissur region, even though this line will entail Thrissur to become a busy railway junction. Thus  people’s forums and trade associations in Thrissur may have to carry the mantle to demand this new railway line.

I have been advocating for the implementation of the Kollengode - Thrissur railway for the past two decades. Readers can see my articles/blogs on the same. Hope that the said railway which was shelved since the first post-independence survey in 1964 will become a reality and change the face of the Pollachi - Kollengode - Nenmara - Vadakkumcherry - Thrissur region. Kollengode - Thrissur line will be a deviation from Kollengode, from the Pollachi- Kollengode - Palakkad M.G section, that currently under gauge-conversion.  It actually creates a chord-line between Thrissur and Pollachi. Let us hope that the Union Railway Budget 2015-16 will formally sanction this project with adequate release of funds.

                                                       A valley view at Nelliyampathy 

Let me put forth apprehensive questions to the Ministry of Railways. Since the railway Line upon conversion of M.G line from Dindigul in the offing at Pollachi, when will the line be ready in the Pollachi - Kollengode - Palakkad section completing the Dindigul – Palakkad gauge conversion project? Will the new B.G railway line that was shelved for five decades from Kollengode to Thrissur becomes a reality and enable a rail link through the valley of Nelliyampathy Hills?

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