Agitation planned in Ramanathapuram

Ramanathapuram:Various associations of Ramanathapuram have decided to organise an agitation protesting the “inordinate delay” in opening the Rameswaram-Manamadurai section for traffic.The decision was taken at a meeting held here on Tuesday.Expressing dismay over the unnecessary delay in resuming traffic in the important train route, M.A. Sundararajan, president, Tamil Nadu Consumer Protection Centre, who presided over the meeting, said even after spending several crore of rupees for conversion work, the railways had not taken enough interest to open the traffic.

It was a great loss not only to the railways but also to people and pilgrims.The people were put to untold hardship for the past one and half years on account of gauge conversion between Rameswaram and Manamadurai. But, the sufferings of the people should not be allowed to continue particularly after completing the work.He also pointed out that the Commissioner for Railway Safety had also given the green signal to operate train in the route.He said the date for the protest would be decided in the next meeting for which all leading associations would be called.

M. Dhanabalan, president, Chamber of Commerce, Ramanathapuram district, Asmabagh Anwardeen, president, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Karunanidhi, president, Textile Merchants Association and others participated.More than 200 persons belonging to various associations on Wednesday staged a demonstration at Paramakudi.They urged the Southern Railway to open the Manamadurai-Rameswaram section for traffic.