Rail users want ‘patch doubling’ of line ahead of Mahamaham

With the Mahamaham festival at Kumbakonam slated in March 2028 and which is expected to attract a huge influx of devotees to the temple town from various places by trains, rail users have pitched for “patch doubling” of the existing single railway line stretch from Thanjavur to Mayiladuthurai via Kumbakonam to enable operation of more services during the festival period.
The suggestion has come at a time when senior officials of the Tiruchi Railway Division and the Thanjavur district administration held a joint meeting late last month at Kumbakonam to discuss the preparations for the Mahamaham festival scheduled from February 29 to March 9,
2028.
The plans of the railways and their preparedness to handle the anticipated influx of devotees and ensure their smooth and safe movement was conveyed at the
meeting.
The discussions covered anticipated pilgrim footfall, crowd management, and augmentation of passenger amenities at Kumbakonam among
others.
“The patch doubling project can be carried out between Thanjavur and Mayiladuthurai via Kumbakonam. If that is not possible, the railways can at least take up patch doubling between Aduthurai and Sundaraperumalkoil which are the two block stations near Kumbakonam to ensure seamless movement of trains during the festival period”, said A. Giri, secretary, Thanjavur District Railway Users’
Association.