Tiruvannamalai Exp gets regular weekly status

Bhimavaram: The Narasapuram–Arunachalam (Tiruvannamalai) Express, which had been operating as a special train, has now been converted into a regular weekly express service. Union Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma flagged off the first regular service at Bhimavaram Town railway station on Wednesday.

Addressing the gathering, he said the Tiruvannamalai Special Express was introduced on July 9 last year to fulfil a long-pending demand of locals and pilgrims. “The train received an overwhelming response, with occupancy touching 110%. We placed the matter before senior railway officials and explained the need to convert it into a regular service,” he said.

Varma pointed out that passengers had to pay nearly 30 per cent higher fares when the train operated as a special service. “There was also uncertainty over cancellations and delays. With the train becoming a regular weekly express, passengers will no longer face these issues and can expect better services,” he said, adding that efforts were underway to increase the frequency of the train in the near future. He also announced that regular weekly express services between Narasapuram and Bengaluru would commence from July 10. He said efforts were underway to introduce a daytime train between Narasapuram and Visakhapatnam, to provide a halt for the Vande Bharat Express at Tadepalligudem railway station, and to launch a direct train connecting Narasapuram with Varanasi.

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