After decades of wait, Theni district to get first train to Chennai

Until now, people had to take passenger (unreserved express) train from Theni to reach Madurai and wait for hours for their train to Chennai

Amidst lot of expectations from the people of Theni district, Southern Railway would introduce the first-ever express train connecting Bodinayakanur in the district with Chennai from June 15.

This would be the first train to link Theni district outside Madurai ever since it was formed by bifurcating Madurai district in 1996, though special trains had been operated to Melmaruvathur from Bodi in the past, said a teacher, E. Nagarajan (57) of Theni.

“We are eagerly waiting for the train services to provide us hassle-free direct connection to Chennai,” Mr. Nagarajan said.

Hitherto, people had to take passenger (unreserved express) train from Theni to reach Madurai and wait for hours for their train to Chennai. “No more we need to wait at Madurai,” he said.

R. Sankaranarayanan (60) of Theni feels relieved to no longer having to take the private buses which often fleece the passengers, especially students studying in Chennai and those working there. “The fare would be more than double and go up beyond ₹2,500 during festivals and holidays,” he said.

Theni district which had a metre-gauge train services for more than 55 years lost the train services since 2011 when the railway authorities dismantled the track for taking up gauge conversion work.

However, after prolonging the work of laying broadgauge track, Bodi would get back train service after more than 12 years.