>Wizardman: rm copypasted content from https://web.archive.org/web/20121108075430/http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/24/stories/2006062415610100.htm

2021-10-05T22:55:44Z

rm copypasted content from https://web.archive.org/web/20121108075430/http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/24/stories/2006062415610100.htm

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width = 25em
| name = Guruvayur–Thrissur spur line
| color =
| logo =
| logo_width =
| image = Thrissur Railway Station 2010.jpg
| image_width = 300px
| caption = View of Thrissur railway station
| type = [[Regional rail]]
| system = Electrified
| status = Operational
| locale = [[Thrissur district]]
| start = {{stnlnk|Thrissur}}
| end = {{stnlnk|Guruvayur}}
| stations = 2
| routes = 1
| daily_ridership =
| open = {{Start date and age|df=y|1994|1|9}}
| close =
| owner = [[Southern Railway zone]]
| operator = [[Thiruvananthapuram railway division]]
| character =
| depot =
| stock =
| linelength = {{convert|23|km}}
| tracklength =
| tracks = 1
| gauge = {{track gauge|1676 mm}}
| old_gauge =
| minradius =
| racksystem =
| electrification = Fully
| speed =
| elevation =
| website = http://www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in/
| map = {{Guruvayur–Thrissur spur line}}
| map_state = collapsed
}}

'''Guruvayur–Thrissur section''' is a [[spur line]] functioning under [[Trivandrum railway division]] of [[Southern Railway zone]]. This is a single broad-gauge line which begins at [[Thrissur]] city and ends at [[Guruvayur]] in [[Thrissur district]] of [[Kerala]]. The {{convert|23|km}} section was opened for traffic in the year 1994. The line connects the ''Cultural Capital of Kerala'', Thrissur to the ''Temple Town of Kerala'', Guruvayur, the fourth biggest temple in India in terms of the number of devotees per day.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/09/stories/2006110906890300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108075420/http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/09/stories/2006110906890300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-11-08|title=Hunger strike for Tanur–Guruvayur railway line|access-date=2010-10-30|location=Chennai|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=2006-11-09}}</ref><ref name="The Hindu">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/24/stories/2006062415610100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108075430/http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/24/stories/2006062415610100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-11-08|title=Guruvayur–Tanur rail line project in limbo|access-date=2010-10-30|location=Chennai|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=2006-06-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pilgrimage-india.com/south-india-pilgrimage/guruvayoor-temple.html|title=Guruvayoor Temple|publisher=Pilgrimage India|access-date=2010-10-30}}</ref>

==History==

In 1983, [[Kamalapati Tripathi]], then [[Minister of Railways (India)]] announced the construction of [[Thrissur]]–Guruvayur–[[Kuttippuram]] section. But following stiff opposition from the local people, Kuttipuram was dropped. On 19 January 1985 [[Indian Railways]] officially notifies Guruvayur–Tanur line for construction as temple town is a notified pilgrimage area. [[Rajiv Gandhi]], then [[Prime Minister of India]] in 1987 inaugurated the first alignment line of Guruvayur–Tanur section.

On 9 January 1994 the first phase of the Thrissur–Guruvayur section was inaugurated by Prime Minister of India, [[P. V. Narasimha Rao|Narasimha Rao]]. On 17 December 1995, [[Suresh Kalmadi]] and then [[Chief Minister of Kerala]] [[Kannoth Karunakaran]] inaugurated the work for the Guruvayur–Kuttipuram line. But later Kuttipuram was dropped once more and Indian Railways in 1997 give the green signal for Guruvayur–Tanur line. 51.25 km Guruvayur–Tanur railway line survey report was submitted to Indian Railways in July 1998. The project was sanctioned in 1999. The final surveys were done for the Guruvayur–Tanur railway line in January 2003, which will cover 51 km. In October 2009, Guruvayur–[[Tirunavaya]] alignment was chosen by Indian Railways.<ref name="The Hindu"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/24/stories/2006062415610100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108075430/http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/24/stories/2006062415610100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-11-08|title=Guruvayur–Tirunavaya rail line soon: Ahamed|access-date=2010-10-30|location=Chennai|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=2006-06-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://beta.mangalam.com/local-features/16766|title=Guruvayur–Kuttipuram railway line turns 17|publisher=Mangalam|access-date=2013-01-28|location=Thrissur|date=2013-01-28|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216101839/http://beta.mangalam.com/local-features/16766|archive-date=16 February 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Kuttiparam-Guruvyoor inguaration plaque.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Commemorative plaque of Kuttipuram–Guruvayoor section in Guruvayoor railway station]]
The project is in limbo ever since then. Successive Kerala Governments showed no interest to revive this project by paying fair compensation acquire land and handover to Indian Railways. People expected some announcement on this regard from PM Modi on his visit to the temple after 2019 Elections. But nothing happened. In all sense this project is a no beginner if implemented it would have been of great help to Malabar people and would have provided an alternative route between Kochi and Mangalore bypassing busy Shoranur.

One of the biggest ironies of this rail line is that the incomplete section passes through "Metro man" [[E. Sreedharan]]'s native place.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Railways in Southern India}}
{{Thrissur topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Guruvayur-Thrissur spur line}}
[[Category:Thiruvananthapuram railway division|†]]
[[Category:Transport in Thrissur]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Kerala]]
[[Category:Economy of Thrissur]]
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge railways in India]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1994]]
[[Category:Transport in Guruvayur]]

Guruvayur–Thrissur spur line - Revision history

>Wizardman: rm copypasted content from https://web.archive.org/web/20121108075430/http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/24/stories/2006062415610100.htm