Rail users of the historic Papanasam town in Thanjavur district have reiterated their demand to the Southern Railway to provide a halt of the Tambaram - Nagercoil - Tambaram Antyodaya unreserved express at Papanasam station in both directions. The Antyodaya express (20691 / 20692) is a daily train that is operated with a full complement of unreserved coaches.
Notwithstanding repeated requests from the rail users and a couple of Members of Parliament from the delta region to the railway administration in the past seeking a halt of the Antyodaya express at Papanasam, the long pending demand is yet to fructify.
Papanasam is a religious town surrounded by various ancient temples, including the 108 Sivalayam temple, Thirukkarugavur Garbarakshambiga temple and the Nallur Panchavarneswarar temple attracting devotees from various places. Falling under the NSG 5 category, Papanasam, which is a taluk headquarter, has been a well patronised station in the age-old Thanjavur - Villupuram main line section.
Rail users say they face the problem especially during night as getting accommodation in the reserved and unreserved coaches of the Thanjavur - Chennai Egmore Uzhavan express is virtually impossible. Although the Tiruchendur - Chennai Egmore express also halts at Papanasam the train comes only in the early hours. Getting accommodation is next to impossible in this train which runs with packed capacity.
“Providing a halt for the Antyodaya express at Papanasam would immensely benefit unreserved travellers proceeding to Tambaram during night. The Tambaram - bound Antyodaya express halts at Thanjavur and thereafter at Kumbakonam without stopping at Papanasam station which is in between”, says T. Saravanan, a member of the Tiruchi Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee and a resident of Papanasam.
Similarly, it would be beneficial for the unreserved travellers of Papanasam if the Nagercoil - bound Antyodaya express is provided a halt at this station as it would provide them connectivity to the southern districts. A few years ago, the Mannai express from Mannargudi to Chennai Egmore used to be operated via Papanasam with a halt at the station. However, the express train was rerouted and is operating presently via Tiruvarur and Mayiladuthurai.
Mr. Saravanan, who is the secretary of the Train Passengers Association, Papanasam said the demand seeking a halt for the Antyodaya express at Papanasam is a long pending one which remains unaddressed despite repeated representations from the rail users and MPs from the delta region. The railway administration should address this demand in the interest of the travelling public, he added.
Published - July 24, 2026 08:24 pm IST