Broad gauge for 13 yrs, no trains on Velankanni-Nagai line

IT has been over 13 years since the railway line from Nagapattinam to Velankanni was converted to broad gauge (BG) and thrown open for service.

-  B ANBUSELVAN

However, a daily service from Chennai to Velankanni, a popular pilgrimage and tourist destination in the delta district, remains a distant dream.

The absence of a direct train from Chennai to Velankanni compels thousands of tourists and devotees to opt for buses and alternative modes of transportation during the summer vacation and festival seasons.

Although the southern railway officials said summer special trains to Velankanni will soon be announced, they remain tight-lipped on the introduction of regular daily service from Chennai. Regular visitors said crores of money was spent for the broad gauge conversion work to Velankanni, yet the section remains under utilised without a daily service from Chennai or other major destinations.