Siruthuli, the Coimbatore-based environmental organisation working on water conservation and afforestation, has requested the Southern Railway to rename Train No. 12680 Coimbatore-MGR Chennai Superfast Express as ‘Noyyal Express’.
In a representation to Southern Railway General Manager U. Subba Rao, on Friday, managing trustee of Siruthuli Vanitha Mohan said the Noyyal river originating in the Velliangiri Hills of the Western Ghats and flowing to a length of 160 km before joining the Cauvery river was integral to the historic development of Kongu region encompassing Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Erode and Karur districts.
The Noyyal river, with its network of streams and irrigation channels sustained agriculture, supported livelihoods, and shaped the region’s cultural heritage.
The Indian Railways has recognised the cultural and geographical significance of rivers and natural landmarks through the names of several trains: Vaigai Express, Cauvery Express, and Pothigai Express.
Renaming Train No. 12680 Coimbatore-MGR Chennai Superfast Express as ‘Noyyal Express’ will be a meaningful tribute to the Noyyal river and the legacy, and would inspire future generations to protect the invaluable natural resource, Ms. Vanitha Mohan said.
In another representation, Siruthuli while thanking the Railways for permitting planting of 62,800 trees on railway lands in and around Coimbatore since 2012, sought consent for extending the afforestation activities, under its Green Guard initiative, to raise 1.62 lakh trees in the open spaces to a cumulative extent of 46.4 acres in Singanallur railway station, Nallampalayam, Kavundampalayam, Podanur, Karamadai railway station, and Coimbatore Railway Station.
Published - October 24, 2026 09:39 pm IST