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Coimbatore or Kovai is a major city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the second largest city and urban agglomeration in the state after Chennai[1] and the sixteenth largest urban agglomeration in India. It is administered by the Coimbatore Municipal Corporation and is the administrative capital of Coimbatore district. It is one of the fastest growing tier-II cities in India and a major textile, industrial, commercial, educational, information technology, healthcare and manufacturing hub of Tamil Nadu.[2] It is often referred to as the "Manchester of South India" due to its cotton production and textile industries.[3][4]
Train service in Coimbatore started in 1861, upon construction of the Podanur–Madras line connecting Kerala and the west coast with the rest of India.[5] Coimbatore lies on the Coimbatore–Shoranur 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge railway line. Until 1956, the Coimbatore railway division was functioning with Podanur as its Headquarters. In 1956, the headquarters was shifted to Olavakkode, of Kerala , and was named Olavakkod railway division. In 1980, Olavakkod division was renamed Palakkad railway division. It comprised Kerala and western districts of Tamil Nadu. Ultimately, a new Salem railway division was carved out of the Palakkad railway division in 2006 with Salem as its headquarters. The city falls under the Salem Division of the Southern Railway zone of Indian Railways. The major railway station is the Coimbatore Junction which is the second largest income generating station in the Southern Railway zone after Chennai Central and is amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railways.[6][7][8] Other major railway stations catering to the city include Coimbatore North Junction, Podanur Junction and minor stations at Peelamedu, Singanallur, Irugur Junction, Perianaikanpalayam, Madukkarai, Somanur, Sulur & Thudiyalur .
- ^ "Tamil Nādu (India): State, Major Cities, Towns & Agglomerations – Statistics & Maps on City Population". Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ^ "Indian Government press release". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
- ^ "Nicknames of places in India". Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ^ "Manchester of South India". The Indian Express. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ^ "IR History – Early days". 1832–1869. IRFCA. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
- ^ "Indian Railways Passenger Reservation Enquiry". Availability in trains for Top 100 Booking Stations of Indian Railways. IRFCA. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
- ^ "Railways in Coimbatore". raac.co.in. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
- ^ "Coimbatore Junction neglected". The Hindu. 31 August 2011.