Tiruchi Junction, Chidambaram among 103 heritage stations identified by the Railway Board

Tiruchi Junction, Chidambaram among 103 heritage stations identified by the Railway Board 'Station Mahotsav' to be organised at the identified stations as per their date of inception; Railway Board suggests a slew of programmes to be organised at the 103 chosen stations in various railway zones.

Key points

• The stations at Mettupalayam, Kallar, Hillgrove, Coonoor, Wellington, Aravankadu, Ketti, Lovedale and Udhagamandalam fall under the heritage and scenic Nilgiri Mountain Railway section.
• In the case of Tiruvannamalai, it is 1890, Pattukottai 1902 and Thiruvananthapuram 1931.
• The sources remarked the Tiruchi Railway Division is planning to hold the celebrations at the Tiruchi railway junction on August 24.
• A 'Station Mahotsav' is proposed to be held at Tiruchi Junction on August 24.
• The Railway Board has suggested a slew of programmes for various railway zones to be organised in connection with the proposed Station Mahotsav at the identified stations.

In practice, a 'Station Mahotsav' is proposed to be held at Tiruchi Junction on August 24. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement.

Tiruchi Junction and Chidambaram are among the 103 heritage railway stations identified the Railway Board, New Delhi, where "Station Mahotsav" (Birthday Celebration) will be organised as per their date of inception.

Meanwhile, the Railway Board has suggested a slew of programmes for various railway zones to be organised in connection with the proposed Station Mahotsav at the identified stations.

Besides Tiruchi and Chidambaram, the other stations identified in the Southern Railway Zone by the Railway Board are Tiruvannamalai, Pattukottai, Thiruvananthapuram, Mettupalayam, Kallar, Hillgrove, Coonoor, Wellington, Aravankadu, Ketti, Lovedale and Udhagamandalam. The stations at Mettupalayam, Kallar, Hillgrove, Coonoor, Wellington, Aravankadu, Ketti, Lovedale and Udhagamandalam fall under the heritage and scenic Nilgiri Mountain Railway section. Specific month has been identified by the Railway Board for celebrating the Station Mahotsav at the respective stations in different railway zones.

While it is 1878 in the case of Chidambaram railway station which falls along the age-old Villupuram-Thanjavur broad gauge mainline section, the date of inception of Tiruchi railway junction is 1862. In the case of Tiruvannamalai, it is 1890, Pattukottai 1902 and Thiruvananthapuram 1931. The Tiruchi Railway Junction, Chidambaram, Tiruvannamalai, and Pattukottai fall under the limits of the Tiruchi Railway Division.

Railway sources the board has shared a list of tentative programmes to be organised for the "Station Mahotsav" based on the feedback from different railways. The programmes could be tweaked by the individual railway zones taking into consideration their local history, culture and community sentiments.

For context, the programmes suggested by the board to organise the celebrations include organising historic photo exhibition, flag march at stations, a short movie on the heritage station, exhibition of vintage exhibits, cultural programmes, projection mapping/laser show at the station, flag march at stations and promotion of local art and handicrafts through rail theme souvenirs. The sources remarked the Tiruchi Railway Division is planning to hold the celebrations at the Tiruchi railway junction on August 24.

In short, tiruchi Junction, Chidambaram among 103 heritage stations identified by the Railway Board is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.