Kothagudem commuters suffer as three trains remain unrestored in 33 months

RAVINDRA SESHU I DC

KOTHAGUDEM: Kothagudem railway station, which normally a heavy commuter flow, has fallen silent ever since half the passenger trains that touched the station were cancelled during the Covid lockdown, almost 33 months back. With only three passenger trains functional, the locals fear that the unused space in the railway station could be converted to house goods trains.

Though passengers from Kothagudem, Manuguru and Yellandu in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district have been regularly seeking the restoration of the remaining three trains, railway officials remain unmoved by their plight.

Cancellation of Manuguru-Kolhapur train is a big blow as it was useful to software employees to reach Lingampalli and Madhapur in Hyderabad. They were happy when the train was introduced four years back. It is yet to be restored.

Dornakal and Kazipet and Vijayawada from Kothagudem are the other two that remain cancelled. Passenger trains are of particular importance to poor families and farm labourers to reach various destinations as the fare to Kazipet and Vijayawada is less than`50.

N. Arun Kumar, a commuter, said, “Workers used to reach their destinations spending less. Today, they have to shell down `Rs 200 to reach Vijayawada and Kazipet as they have to travel by buses. The railways should restore the train immediately”.

Singareni superfast express from Kothagudem to Balarsha, Kakatiya express from Kothagudem to Hyderabad and another passenger train from Kothagudem to Vijayawada are running now apart from the Manuguru to Hyderabad train via Kothagudem.

Kodamasinham Pandurangacharyly, who is fighting for the restoration of the trains, said “The local MPs are restoration of these passenger trains. People are spending more money on TSRTC and private buses”.