Residents said Maniyachchi owed a great deal to to its railway station as the village remains economically and educationally backward.  According to K P Perumal, a resident, basic facilities such as drinking water and toilets were not available adequately at the station. Moreover, passenger safety is at risk due to lack of adequate infrastructure, he said.

Another resident V Subbaraman said all the villagers were looking forward to development of the station. Pointing out that former Chief Minster J Jayalalithaa had announced a new 27-km long road connecting the railway station and Thoothukudi in the interest of passengers, he said no steps were taken to fulfil her promise. As a result, passengers are forced to take a circuitous route covering almost 40 km through Puthiyamputhur and Ottapidaram to reach the station.

 

“Currently, track doubling work is under way between Maniyachchi and Thoothukudi. Post its completion, Maniyachchi could stand a chance of becoming a major station if more infrastructure facilities are provided,” Subbaraman opined.

Even Thoothukudi residents want the authorities to improve the station. J P Joe Villavarayar, a resident of Thoothukudi said, “As many as 36 trains pass through Maniyachchi station daily. Rail passengers may prefer this station if adequate facilities were made available.”

 

“Maniyachchi station could emerge as an alternative to Thoothukudi. Some Chennai-bound day trains halt here, but people from Thoothukudi find it difficult to reach the station in time. Hence, many prefer to take the circuitous route to Kovilpatti station to board trains,” he said.