Rajakumari, Idukki: The final trial run in order to start train services to Bodinayakkanur in Tamil Nadu, which is close to Kerala’s border, has been completed successfully. During the trial run, three compartments with Railway officials travelled along the 17-km newly-laid broad gauge track from Theni to Bodinayakkanur (Bodi). The trial run was supervised by the Railway Safety Commissioner for South Zone.
When the train reached Bodi station, local people who had assembled there were allowed to enter the compartments.
Meanwhile, a Railway official said that the passenger train which started service between Chennai and Theni via Madurai in May 2022 would be extended to Bodi at the earliest.
“The Railway will soon issue the final notification to start the daily service, following which trains will run between Bodi and Chennai,” he said.
Work on the broad-gauge track till Bodi was taken up in various phases. As many as 23 minor bridges and three major bridges were constructed.
Benefits for Idukki
Incidentally, goods trains used to ply on a metre-gauge track to Bodi till 13 years ago. With the completion of work on the new broad-gauge track and imminent resumption of train services, residents of the nearby district of Idukki in Kerala are also upbeat. In fact, the Bodi railway station is merely 40 km from Pooppara in Idukki.
Direct services to Bodi from Chennai would enable tourists from various states to travel easily to Munnar and other destinations in Idukki. Similarly, Sabarimala pilgrims too can take this route from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra. Regular train services from Bodi station would be a big boon also for residents of Idukki districts heading to pilgrim centres such as Madurai, Velankanni, Rameswaram, Palani and Tirupati.
Yet another advantage of Bodi station is the opening of a convenient new path to transport the spices grown in Idukki to markets in various states.
