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Yal Devi to bring back the glory of northern lines, says Station Master
He was the Assistant Station Master of the Jaffna railway station nearly 30 years ago. Today he has returned as the Station Master to the place he considers ‘home’.
The new look Jaffna station with its dravidian architectural influence
Narayanasamy Thavananthan recalling his time there from 1983 to 1990-when train services were terminated due to the conflict- says one of the main changes he sees is the newly constructed railway station with its Dravidian design.
On Monday President Mahinda Rajapaksa opened the rail track that was reconstructed with Indian funding, from Pallai up to Jaffna, enabling the Yal Devi to resume its journey back to Jaffna after a lapse of 24 years.
“Since the re-commissioning of the Yal Devi on Tuesday its total gross earnings were more than Rs. 1.4 million- in three days. Back then the trains to the north used to be the highest revenue earners when compared to other train services islandwide. I think that time has come,” Mr. Thavananthan said.
Narayanasamy Thavananthan: Happy to be back ‘home’
He added currently only ten officials were working while back then there were 38 staffers. The parcel and goods services are yet to begin.
“I need more staff to resume the cargo services. The trollies and technical instruments are yet to come from Colombo to start that. Probably by the end of this month, it would be possible.” he said.
Mr. Thayananthan said people are seen every day at the counter to reserve tickets to travel to other parts of the country. Some have started advanced bookings where they can reserve tickets a month ahead.
President Rajapaksa greets people at the Jaffna Station after alighting from the Yal Devi. Pix by Indika Handuwala
“Even now people are eager to travel on the iconic Yal Devi,” he said.
The Northern railway link, which was constructed by IRCON, a subsidiary of Indian Railways, at a cost of 800 million dollars was officially declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksha on Monday.
“It was open for commuters on Tuesday. The earnings crossed Rs. 1,464,525 in the first three days. I think it has created a record in the history of Sri Lankan Railways,” he said.
Muthukrishna Sarvananthan, a development economist based in Jaffna and principal researcher of the Point Pedro Institute of Development, said that with the reopening of the northern railway line more doors would opened for small business holders and industrialists in the region.
“Currently lorries, container trucks and trailers carry heavy cargo to the Northern Province by road facing much hardship. Trains are a cheaper and quicker mode of transportation of goods. The Government should set up facilities to be used by small business owners and passengers near the station storage and warehouse,” he said, adding that to maximise the benefits of the re-opened railway lines to the north an integrated transport system should be evolved.
“Bus stations, taxi stands, and bicycle hires should be available outside each railway station so that passengers have transport access to different parts of the region,” he said.
The TNA which boycotted the opening said it would oppose the expansion of the service up to Kankesanthurai until northern civilians were allowed to resettle in those areas.
TNA’s Northern Provincial Councillor M.K. Sivajilingam said if the move to extend the Yal Devi up to Kankesanthurai (KKS) was based on military interests they would oppose it.
He said around 6,200 acres of land surrounding KKS were under military control and still considered a part of the high security zone.
“The railway tracks are being extended to the KKS harbour too. It should be allowed to function as civilian harbour. The displaced people have still not been resettled in this area. Then for whom is the rail services?” he asked.
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