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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