Rail Passengers, members of the Podanur Railway Passengers’ Welfare Association and residents of Podanur have appealed to the Railway authorities to speed-up the renovation of Podanur Railway Station, as the work has been progressing at a snail’s pace since 2023.

This station is the first railway station to be built in Coimbatore district, in 1862. It is more than 160 years old. Understanding the station’s need for modernization, the Union Government of India decided to give it a facelift under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) in 2023 at a cost of Rs. 24 crore, according to a report.

Podanur station and Coimbatore North Station were the two stations in Coimbatore district selected for this upgradation under ABSS. The work at Coimbatore North station progressed much faster than at Podanur. The extension of the foot-over bridge with roofing, installation of three lifts, construction of toilets, passenger waiting areas, installation of additional seats and stone benches, etc. are over at Coimbatore North. The parking space is being improved, and the entrance arch and front elevation are also being upgraded.

Meanwhile, rail passengers of Podanur station and residents of Podanur are not so happy with the pace in which the works at their station is going on. A report mentions that the installation of lifts in three places at Podanur station has been completed while rest of the works such as renovation of the entry, improvement of parking space, re-laying of platforms and fixing roofs over them, etc. are not over.

The residents and members of the train passengers' association have urged the concerned authorities to expedite the renovation works. They have also requested the railways to make it a second railway terminus after Coimbatore Junction.