| Karaikkudi Junction | |
| Type: | Indian Railways station |
| Style: | Indian Railways |
| Address: | Ariyakudi Road, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu |
| Country: | India |
| Coordinates: | 10.0678°N 78.7924°W |
| Line: | Thiruvarur–Karaikudi, Tiruchirappalli–Karaikudi, Karaikudi-Manamadurai |
| Connections: | Taxi, Auto rickshaw, town buses are available |
| Structure: | A–grade, Category NSG4 |
| Platform: | 5 |
| Tracks: | 8 |
| Parking: | Yes |
| Bicycle: | Yes |
| Opened: | 1 July 1930 |
| Electrified: | Yes |
| Owned: | Indian Railways |
| Operator: | Southern Railway zone |
| Zone: | Indian Railways |
| Status: | Functioning |
| Passengers: | 711,396 (per year) 1,949 (per day) |
| Pass Year: | 2022–23 |
| Map Type: | India Tamil Nadu |
| Map Dot Label: | Karaikkudi railway station |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Map State: | collapsed |
| Mapframe: | yes |
| Mapframe-Caption: | Interactive map |
Karaikkudi Junction (station code: KKDI) is an NSG–4 category railway station located in Karaikudi in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the principle rail-head in the city that serves it's metropolitan area, falling under the jurisdiction of Madurai railway division of Southern Railway zone.[1] [2] It the major junction of the Chettinad region and the surrounding areas of Sivaganga district.[3] It is one of the 73 stations in Tamil Nadu to be named for upgradation under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme of Indian Railways [4] . Along with this main junction, Karaikudi City has the following Suburban Stations around the city.
Karaikudi station was constructed as a part of Pudukkottai–Sivaganga railway line during the 1930s.[5] Initially during its older days this station acted as an ordinary railway station when the Tiruturaipundi Aranthangi line was extended to Karaikudi, it became a junction railway station. It became as a junction by connecting all the three terminal lines they are Manamadurai Sivagangai Railway line, Trichinopoly Pudukkottai Railway line and Tiruturaipundi Aranthangi Railway line. Being a junction station, three rail lines emerge from the station, one towards Tiruchirappalli Junction, another to Thiruthuraipoondi junction and the third and final one Manamadurai Junction.
Being a Junction station, three rail lines emerge from the station, one towards,[6] another to Manamadurai Junction[7] and the third and final one towards Thiruthuraipoondi Junction.[8] [9] [10]
It is a major as well as an important passing station present on the Tiruchirappalli–Manamadurai railway line.[8] [11] It also operates an inland container depot (railway goods shed) at Chettinad railway station.[12] It houses offices of ADEN, JE(P.way) and SSE TRD at Karaikkudi for regular train operations.
For the FY 2022–23, the annual earnings of the station was and daily earnings was . For the same financial year, the annual passenger count was 711,396 and daily count was 1,949. While, the footfall per day was recorded as 3,975.
Karaikudi is well connected with the capital city Chennai. Most of the trains bound to Chennai, Manamadurai, Rameswaram and Kanyakumari from Tiruchirappalli pass through this station, with every train having a stoppage here for a minimum of 5–10 minutes.[8]
Below projects are surveyed and waiting for funds since long time.[13]
1. Madurai–Melur–Tirupattur–Karaikudi new BG line: Reconnaissance Engineering cum Traffic Survey for a new BG line between Karaikkudi and Madurai via Melur and Thirupattur (85.70 km) was conducted and Survey Report was sent to Railway Board on 27.11.2014. This project was shelved by Railway Board.[14]
2. Karaikudi-Natham-Dindigul new BG line: Reconnaissance Engineering cum Traffic Survey for a new BG line between Karaikkudi and Dindigul via Thirupattur and Natham (105.60 km) was conducted and Survey Report was sent to Railway Board on 06.07.2015. This project was shelved by Railway Board.[15]
3. Karaikudi-Devakottai-Ramanathapuram-Tuticorin new BG line: Reconnaissance Engineering cum Traffic Survey for a new BG line between Karaikkudi and Tuticorin via Devakkottai and Ramanathapuram (214.81 km) was conducted and Survey Report was sent to Railway Board on 30.08.2011. This project was shelved by Railway Board.[16]
