Podanur railway station to be Coimbatore’s second terminus in three years

COIMBATORE: Podanur railway station, one of the oldest railway stations in South India, is being upgraded to be the second railway terminus of Coimbatore city, said Southern Railway general manager R N Singh on Tuesday.The GM visited the Podanur station to inspect ongoing work under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. The station is being renovated at a cost of Rs 24 crore. Singh directed officials to expedite work and ensure quality of construction.Talking to the media after the inspection, the GM said, “Around Rs 100 crore has been allocated for the Podanur railway station to be upgraded into the city’s second terminus. This will take another three years for the completion after which originating trains to new destinations can be facilitated and simultaneously decongest the Coimbatore Junction.”Upgradation work includes establishing a coach maintenance facility, yard, pit line, stabling line and additional amenities to support its potential role as a terminal.The Podanur Rail Users Association submitted a petition to Southern Railway general manager requesting the railways to resume train services to Rameswaram, Tuticorin and Kollam that were stopped. The association requested the railways to resume the Salem-Coimbatore MEMU train, as well.Later, the GM visited the Coimbatore railway junction and held a meeting with the station officials. They discussed the proposed redevelopment of the station. The GM inspected the station.