Sivaganga railway station

Route map
v; t; e; Tiruchirappalli–; Manamadurai line
	Legend
	TPJ
	MDU

Sivaganga

சிவகங்கை
Sivaganga; சிவகங்கை
Express train, Passenger train and Commuter rail station
Location	Sentamil Nagar, Railway Station Road, Sivaganga, Sivaganga district, Tamil Nadu; India
Coordinates	9°51′20″N 78°30′03″E / 9.8556382°N 78.5009328°E
Elevation	103.5 metres (340 ft)
Owned by	Indian Railways
Operated by	Southern Railway zone
Line(s)	Manamadurai–Karaikudi line
Platforms	3
Tracks	3
Connections	Auto rickshaw stand, Taxi stand
Construction
Structure type	Standard (on-ground station)
Parking	Yes
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Status	Functioning
Station code	SVGA
Zone(s)	Southern Railway zone
Division(s)	Madurai
History
Opened	1 July 1930[citation needed]
Rebuilt	2008[citation needed]
Electrified	Ongoing
Passengers
	10,000/per day[citation needed]
Services
Route map
Route map
v; t; e; Tiruchirappalli–; Manamadurai line
	Legend
	TPJ
	MDU
Location
	Sivaganga Location in Tamil Nadu Sivaganga Location in India

Sivaganga railway station serves the city of Sivaganga, India. The station belongs to the Madurai railway division and is a major transit point in Sivagangai district. It is also known by its official code: SVGA. It is under the station category B. It is one of the district headquarters railway station in India.

History[edit]

History of this station goes back to British Rule. During Colonial India, This station served as a Terminal Railway Station of Manamadurai - Sivagangai Branch Line.^[1] Later new railway line was built between Trichinopoly (now Tiruchirappalli) to Pudukkottai for goods transport. In order to establish a direct rail link in-between Sivagangai to Pudukkottai a railway line was established via Karaikudi.^[2] Later Aranthangi Tiruvarur line was extended until Karaikudi from Aranthangi in order ease movement of goods to Nagapattinam Port. So it made Karaikudi as a Junction. Sivagangai is the oldest stations in Tiruchirappalli Manamadurai Section.

Location & Layout[edit]

The Sivaganga railway station is located at the outskirt of Sivagangai town.^[3] The train station falls on the Manamadurai–Trichirappalli broad-gauge line. Almost every daily Express train or long-distance trains has a halt in the station.

Despite Sivaganga being one of the important railway stations in Madurai division, the railway station has only 3 platforms and no starting trains from the town. It is one of the district headquarters railway station. About 10000 passengers travel to Sivaganga per day despite not being a railway station.

Platform 1 can accommodate 24 coach train which spans about 705 yards where as platforms 2 and 3 can accommodate only 17 to 18 coach trains as these 2 platform spans with a length of 530 yards only. The height of platform 2 and 3 is also considerably lower when compared with platform 1. This station has a pedestrian overpass and platform shelters at necessary places.

The nearest airport to the station is the Madurai Airport^[4] situated 50 km west of the city. The nearby stations are the suburbs of Melakonnakulam towards the south and Panangudi towards the North.[1]

Some of the important tourist attractions near the station includes shri sowmya narayana perumal temple of Thirukoshtiyur at a distance of 25 km,^[5] sri swarna kaaleshwarar temple of kalayarkovil at a distance of 19 km,^[6] Nattarasankottai shri kannathal temple,^[7] kollangudi kaliamman temple.^[8]

This station is surrounded by many educational institutions such as schools and colleges as well as some industries, so this station has a good footfall during office hours.