Air passengers from southern districts may no longer have to hurriedly travel in the nick of time from Egmore railway station to airport to catch their flights.

In a bid to help air passengers overcome hassles in reaching the airport, Southern Railway has planned to develop Trisulam railway station as a “transit point” with all express trains bound to southern districts and vice versa halting there.

Union minister of state for railways K.H. Muniappa, who reviewed the performance of Southern Railway and Chennai division in particular, on Monday instructed department officials to chalk out a plan to convert the suburban station close to Chennai airport into a transit point.

Authorities who took part in the review meeting told Deccan Chronicle that the development would include lengthening station platforms adequately so as to accommodate express trains that have over 20 coaches, provision of facilities like retiring rooms (air-conditioning is also under consideration) and spacious area to accommodate passengers leaving to and from the airport.

When asked, divisional railway manager, Chennai, S. Ananatharaman said amenities would be provided to develop Tirusulam station into a transit point and help air passengers.

Not so long ago, the demand to develop Tirusulam station was raised in Parliament by Kancheepuram MP K. Viswanathan.

Currently, Tirusulam is only a suburban electric multiple unit (EMU) station with less than desired patronage as only airport staff and regular passengers using it, while most air passengers spend additional bucks for autorickshaws and taxis to reach the airport elsewhere from the city.

Once upgraded, Tirusulam station would not only save time but also make travel cheaper, as it costs not less than Rs 200 to travel from Egmore and to airport either by auto or taxi.

TN support for rail corridor sought

Development of rail commuter corridor between Avadi and Guduvanchery connecting Sriperumbudur gained momentum with minister of state for railways K.H. Muniappa appealing to the state government to chip in to fast track the project.

Mr Muniappa is learnt to have told officials during a performance review of Southern Railway that they should ask state government officials to consider the project on a priority basis.

As per the project, the Tamil Nadu government ought to contribute 50 per cent towards the rail corridor project, which will cut through Orgadam and Sriperumbudur besides Maraimalai Nagar that house several automobile IT and ITES majors.

The long pending project, which is expected to trigger industrial development, remains on paper even as the railway ministry had sent an estimate for the state government’s perusal.

Laying thrust on expediting the preliminary works of the project, minister Muniappa also appreciated authorities of Southern Railway and Chennai division in particular for mopping up more revenue in the last fiscal in comparison with the corresponding year.

According to divisional railway manager, Chennai, S. Ananthanraman, passenger traffic earnings rose to Rs 2,484 crore in the last fiscal compared to Rs 1,973 crore in the corresponding year.

The minister also appreciated Chennai railway division for improving its punctuality from 81 to an overwhelming 94 per cent last year.