Revive Veerapandi Railway Station, residents urge govt.
Residents of Bilichi Panchayat are urging the government to revive the defunct Veerapandi railway station to improve local connectivity and reduce travel costs. The proposal includes potential funding from the MP Local Area Development fund and the Ministry of Rural Development to support regional socio-economic growth.
Why it matters
Reviving rural rail infrastructure can significantly lower transportation costs for farmers and improve accessibility for underserved communities.
Backed by Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam, residents of Bilichi Panchayat have voiced their demand for revival of the defunct Veerapandi Railway Station (Code: VRPT).
Since the closure of the halt station decades back, rail passengers from Veerapandi and surroundings find themselves forced to depend only on bus services at much higher travel fare.
Else, they have to travel to Thudiyalur and Periyaickenpalayam railway stations, which again entails additional expenditure.
The farmers in Veerapandi surroundings have been emphasising the need for revival of the railway station for transporting their produce at affordable costs.
According G. Ranganathan, State organising secretary of Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam, platform still exists and the local residents have been emphasising on its revival for long.
During 2018, the then Union Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain had promised stoppages of MEMU trains at Veerapandi and Pudupalayam stations, and also gave assurance to make allocations for platform extension work.
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