The coastal town of Velankanni in Nagapattinam district is poised to witness a major railway-related infrastructure development.  The Railway Board, New Delhi, has sanctioned the creation of a new Coaching Depot with pit line, stabling line, sick line, and shunting line facilities at Velankanni Railway Station at a cost of ₹48.96 crore.

An official communication from the Railway Board approving this major project was sent to the Southern Railway General Manager a couple of days ago.  The work is to be executed under the umbrella - “Development / Upgradation of maintenance facilities for rolling stocks ( LHB Push Pull/ LHB)”, according to the communication.

Velankanni will become the third railway station in Tiruchi Division to have a coaching depot with necessary infrastructure after Tiruchi and Villupuram railway junctions.  The Tiruchi Railway Division had proposed the establishment of a new pit line along with other facilities for the maintenance of coaching stock and a stabling line considering the growing demand for operating additional trains in the delta region covering Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, and Mayiladuthurai districts besides Karaikal. 

The cost of the project would cover expenditure towards civil infrastructure, machinery, power supply arrangements, testing facilities for train lighting, air-conditioning system of coaches, and provision of points and crossings.  In the first phase, the project envisages the construction of one pit line, one stabling line, and a high-roof covered shed to carry out scheduled maintenance and repair of coaches. In the second phase, an additional pit line along with three more stabling lines and covered sheds for both pit lines are to be put in place. 

Infrastructure boost

The pit lines would be capable of undertaking maintenance of modern rolling stock and contemporary sets. The upcoming facility is expected to facilitate the introduction of additional train services in the delta region to provide a boost to tourism. The project marks a significant step towards strengthening railway infrastructure in the delta region and enhancing passenger convenience through improved maintenance facilities.

The approval from the Railway Board has gladdened rail users in Nagapattinam and Velankanni towns who had for long been seeking the creation of new pitline and associated facilities at Velankanni — a major pilgrim centre and a tourist spot attracing devotees from various parts of the country. 

Thanga Varadharajan, a BJP functionary hailing from Nagapattinam and an Independent Director of Ircon International Limited in his social media post has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Railway Board officials for according approval for this new project. 

“The Railway Board approval for the establishment of pit line and other facilities at Velankanni is indeed a very positive development which we expect would eventually lead to introduction of more trains in future from this major pilgrim centre benefiting the delta region as a whole,” said S. Mohan, president, Nagore Nagapattinam Rail Users’ Association. 

Velankanni is a terminal station for some daily, bi-weekly, and weekly express trains. Daily passenger trains are operated to Mayiladuthurai, Karaikal, and Nagapattinam besides an express train to Tambaram from Velankanni.  A weekly service to Vasco-da-Gama, bi-weekly services to Ernakulam via Karaikudi and Sivaganga, a weekly service to Ernakulam via Tiruchi and Dindigul are the inter-State trains that are in operation from Velankanni at present.