Commuters stranded as govt. buses barred from entering Karaikudi railway station

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Passengers arriving at the newly renovated Karaikudi railway station have complained about facing severe hardships after the railway administration barred government buses from entering the station premises.

The public alleged that the move was purportedly made to accommodate the demands of local auto-rickshaw drivers.

The railway station, which underwent a ₹20-crore modernisation last year, boasts of a sprawling campus equipped with dedicated parking and terminal facilities for both buses and auto-rickshaws. Serving an average of over 20 daily and weekly train services, it handles more than 6,000 commuters each day.

For months, however, State-run transport corporation buses have been forced to halt a quarter of a km away from the main exit. Commuters, particularly senior citizens, children, and travellers laden with heavy luggage, struggle to bridge the distance on foot.

The restriction has inadvertently rendered public transit services nearly useless for train passengers, many of whom are unaware of where the distant buses are parked. Consequently, public bus ridership has dropped sharply, leaving first-time visitors at the mercy of expensive private autorickshaws. “Government buses were extended to the railway station following our persistent demand,” a regular passenger said.

“Because of the railway administration’s arbitrary restrictions, operating the buses serves no purpose. They must be allowed back inside the campus immediately,” he added.

Transport officials acknowledged the grievances, noting that commuters frequently blamed them for the inconvenience. “Passengers demand that we bring the buses right up to the station, but the railway administration refuses to grant permission,” an official said. “Parking the buses at a distance means passengers often miss them entirely, leading to a steep drop in our passenger count.”

Asked for a response, station officials said the directive came directly from the top management.

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