The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Southern Railway asked to update gauge conversion plan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 19, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Southern Railway asked to update gauge conversion plan

S. Vydhianathan

Board wanted some points to be clarified before clearing the project

CHENNAI: The Railway Board has asked Southern Railway to update its proposal on conversion of the metre gauge line between Chengalpattu and Villupuram.

The zone had submitted a proposal, but the Board wanted some points clarified before clearing the project.

It had been asked to rework the project cost, the rate of return and other parameters, according to Southern Railway sources.

The zone in its earlier proposal stressed the need for converting the meter gauge line in view of the phenomenal increase in passenger and freight traffic on the broad gauge section.

The metre gauge line between the stations is linked to Villupuram-Katpadi and Villupuram-Mayiladuthurai MG sections and the BG line to Tiruchi.

Work apace

The Board had sanctioned conversion of these two MG sections and work is going on in full swing without traffic suspension. Once the work is completed, the Chengalpattu- Villupuram MG line would become redundant. Moreover, traffic in the Chennai Egmore-Villupuram section will improve substantially after the completion of the above projects and the ongoing conversion work in the Manamadurai- Mandapam (Rameswaram), Vriddhachalam- Salem and Mayiladuthurai-Villupuram sections.

While introduction of BG services from Thanjavur to Chennai Egmore via Mayiladuthurai and from Mandapam to Chennai is imperative, the possibility of operating services between Salem and Chennai Egmore via Villupuram is not ruled out.

Already passenger traffic on the Chennai Egmore-Villupuram-Nagercoil BG section is very heavy, especially during festival seasons.

The number of special trains has been rising every season to meet the ever-increasing traffic. If the Chengalpattu-Villupuram BG section is doubled it will help to meet the surge in traffic besides operating more number of services on the Chennai-Nagercoil sector, a major revenue-earning sector in the zone.

Meanwhile, Southern Railway has sought more funds from the Board for conversion of the metre gauge line between Dindigul and Madurai as the single BG line in the section has already reached a saturation point.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu