FROM
R.DHANASEKAR MIE 101608
LECTURER (SG)
SSM POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE KOMARAPALAYAM - 638183
Namakkal Dt, Tamilnadu
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more...

Dear Sir,

I am happy to send my paper on EFFECTIVE USE OF EXISTING
RAILWAY RESOURCES IN COIMBATORE delivered at IEI-CBE on 28 June 2013 ( Friday)

Topic ; EFFECTIVE USE OF EXISTING RAILWAY RESOURCES IN COIMBATORE
by
Er.R.DHANASEKAR MIE, LECTURER (SG)
SSM P0LYTECHNIC COLLEGE, KOMARAPALAYAM 6381183
Namakkal Dt, Tamilnadu
Thanking you
yours truly,
r. dhanasekar
EFFECTIVE USE OF EXISTING RAILWAY RESOURCES IN COIMBATORE.
BYE-PASSING of the Coimbatore junction by long haul trains - BOON OR BANE ?
BYE-PASSING of the Coimbatore junction by long haul trains and the
railways proposal for DOUBLING THE IRUGUR - POTHANUR single
railway line is generating strong opposition from a influential
section of people.
With due respects to them , I would like to draw your attention to
the possible benefits of the above plans.
Not long ago GANDHIPURAM is the only destination for all city buses,
mofussil buses, THIRUVALLVAR STATE EXPRESS BUSES and expensive but
comfortable OMNI buses. It was convenient to all stakeholders;
travelling public and their friends and relatives who are sending
them off / receiving them, both public and private bus operators and
their staff, Taxi / Auto drivers, traders, lodging and boarding
houses ; almost all.
Then the Ukkadam, Singanallur, Mettupalayam mofussil bus stands and
the OMNI bus stand near GP / ELLEN HOSPITALS were came into service.
Perhaps some more mofussil bus stands may come up on AVINASHI ROAD (
peelamedu / kalapatti / CODDISIA ) and SATHY ROAD ( ganapathy). All
these new developments are not convenient to all sections of people.
Still we accepted it because of the inevitability of the change
necessitated by ever increasing crowd.
If we use same logic, then we will not only accept but whole
heartedly welcome the BYE-PASSING of the Coimbatore junction by long
haul trains and the railways proposal for DOUBLING THE IRUGUR -
POTHANUR single railway line.
No TIER II city is so endowed with a super most energy efficient form
of Transport which is already available in our Coimbatore. An MRTS
of ready availability !
To realize this potential, We must get away from the mind set of
Gandhipuram, RS puram, Race course centered city growth. Let us think
of Avinashi to Mettupalayam, Sathy to Pollachi, and Palakadu to
Somanur as part of Coimbatore Mega city
We must treat Pothanur Railway Junction as THE COIMBATORE DISTRICT
( or) GREATER COIMBATORE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY JUNCTION for all the
Traffic passing through Coimbatore (Tirupur to Palakad and beyond
Traffic). What is the point in routing these long haul trains
through Singanallur, peelamedu etc. to Coimbatore city junction
(without any stoppages enroute ) consuming fuel, space, time (of
both passengers and railways ) without any tangible / intangible
benefit to the common city folks, except the harassing / harassed
shopkeepers and the taxi / auto operators.
Frankly speaking, What is our problem with the Pothanur Railway
Junction? Lack of connectivity, is it not? It is not at all a
problem : rather it is a golden opportunity to develop a new Bus
terminus near Pothanur Junction with town buses, mini buses, share
autos, ordinary autos, call taxies etc. for the hassle free travel of
railway passengers boarding / alighting at pothanur. In effect , we
will have a satellite railway junction immediately without any mega
investment.
Thus freed railway line capacity between Irugur and Coimbatore
Junction via Singanallur and Peelamedu can be used for city commuter
traffic. THIS WILL BENEFIT ALL COIMBATOREANS (RESIDENTS AND VISITORS)
It is not that we should abandon the Coimbatore junction. Rather, we
must make it more passenger friendly and congestion free for
Coimbatore city folks. Let us be very clear that all the trains
originating and terminating at Coimbatore junction should continue to
do so. Further, all the Coimbatore bound trains must stop at Irugur,
Singanallur, Peelamedu, Coimbatore North and some more stations/halts
to be created in proximity with Avinashi road (near CIT / CMC /
CODDISIA / IT PARKS), Avaram palayam Road ( near Sri Ramakrishna
Hospital), Sathy Road (near Aswin Hospitals / Textool) and a few
more if demand is there. In effect, it will make a significant segment
of the Coimbatore city roads free from traffic congestion. Especially,
it will make the Coimbatore junction people friendly and crowds
will be manageable. Also it will improve the connectivity and thereby
increase the value of the residential / commercial / industrial
properties along the IRUGUR-PEELAMEDU-North Coimbatore railway line.
It will benefit not only the Coimbatore citizens but also the
frequently visiting populations from Palladam, Tirupur, Erode and
Salem, Palakadu, Mettupalayam etc, too. And some more COIMBATORE
terminating trains (both from Tirupur and Palakkadu ) can be extended
up to Mettupalayam so that we can reduce the enormous road traffic in
the Mettupalayam High way. By applying the same principle, we can
serve commuters from Pollachi side too, once the gauge conversion is
completed.
Perhaps, Railway administration can discuss these ideas in
appropriate forums. { Coimbatore city corporation, District
Administration, Railway user groups, Educational Institutions, Trade
unions, CII and the likes, media (both print and electronic )
CODDISSIA, SIMA, SITRA etc.etc