To manage the sharp post-festival travel surge following Pongal, Indian Railways has scheduled an additional one-way passenger service between Podanur in Coimbatore district and Chennai Central. The move is aimed at easing congestion on one of Tamil Nadu’s busiest intercity corridors as thousands of migrant workers, students, and professionals return to the state capital after the harvest holiday.
The Podanur–Chennai rail corridor plays a vital role in linking western Tamil Nadu’s manufacturing and textile hubs with Chennai’s employment, education, and services economy. Festival travel often stretches this route beyond capacity, leading to long waiting lists, overcrowded coaches, and increased dependence on private buses and cars. The additional service provides short-term relief while highlighting the recurring seasonal pressure on rail infrastructure. According to railway officials, the special service will operate on January 18, departing Podanur early morning and halting at key intermediate stations including Tiruppur, Erode, and Salem. These towns form part of an industrial belt with high workforce mobility, particularly during festival cycles when travel demand spikes sharply in both directions.
Transport analysts point out that such festival-specific trains are increasingly necessary as urbanisation and circular migration intensify across Tamil Nadu. Cities like Chennai rely heavily on labour and talent flows from regional centres, while smaller cities depend on rail connectivity for economic integration. Temporary capacity augmentation during peak travel windows helps maintain mobility without permanently expanding services that may remain underutilised during off-peak periods. Advance reservations for the Podanur–Chennai special service are set to open shortly, allowing passengers to plan return journeys with greater certainty. Rail authorities have advised travellers to confirm schedules and availability through official booking channels, particularly as last-minute demand typically remains high during the Pongal return phase.
For now, the festival special train offers timely relief to passengers navigating the annual Pongal travel rush, reinforcing the role of railways as the backbone of inclusive, affordable, and sustainable mobility across the state.
