Final clearance for double line

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JUNE 18. The Rs. 145.18-crore 65-km newly laid double line between Thiruvananthapuram Central station and Kollam Junction is to become fully operational for train service from tomorrow.

The Commissioner of Railway Safety, Bangalore, Mr. P.K. Sen, who inspected the final sixth and seventh blocks of 20.64 km between Murukkumpuzha and Varkala railway stations today, issued the mandatory clearance certificate paving the way for commencement of train services through the double line.

Railway sources said the certificate was issued by Mr. Sen later in the evening and the 6320 Chennai Mail leaving from Thiruvananthapuram Central to Chennai at 2 p.m on June 19 would be the first train to pass through the entire 65 km new stretch.

Mr. Sen along with the Deputy Commissioner for Railway Safety (Signals) from Mumbai, Mr. Yadav, and other top Railway officials conducted inspection between the two points today as part of clearing the stretch, which has sharp curves and a steep gradient.

The inspection, which commenced from Varkala railway station at 9-10 a.m., ended around 1-30 p.m at Murukkumpuzha railway station. A detailed inspection using trolley and speed trials were carried out in the stretch by the Commissioner.

The Southern Railway's Chief Administrative Officer (Construction), Mr. S. Parameswara Iyer, the Chief Engineer (Construction), Mr. P.K. Mishra, and the Divisional Railway Manager, Mr. S. Marcus, also accompanied Mr. Sen during the inspection.

The Railways have already completed doubling the remaining stretch of 44.36 km between Thiruvananthapuram Central and Kollam and are operating train services through the double line following the clearance of the Commissioner of Railway Safety.

The formal commissioning of the double line will take place later, railway sources said. The doubling work was taken up by the Railways in seven blocks in the 65-km stretch. The 6.24-km stretch between Thiruvananthapuram and Kochuveli was commissioned on March 8, 1998, the 12.48-km Kollam-Paravur on February 28, 1999, the 7.04 km Kochuveli-Murukkumpuzha on March 28, 1999, the 7.16-km Kochuveli-Kazhakuttom on March 28, 1999 and the 11.18-km between Paravur and Varkala on May 23, 1999.

The 9.16-km stretch between Varkala and Kadakavur and the 11.48- km double line between Kadakavur and Murukkumpuzha were completed last week and inspected by Mr. Sen today.

With the completion of the doubling works in the crucial Kollam- Thiruvananthapuram stretch, the Railways hope to drastically improve the train services by avoiding delays for signals and reduce the running time. Land acquisition along the stretch, lack of budgetary support and labour problem had affected and delayed the commissioning of the doubling project.

The work on the Rs. 81.23 crores doubling project, which was sanctioned in 1997, commenced in the same year. Although Rs. 92.23 crores has been sanctioned by the Railways over the years for the project so far, the cost of laying the double line had now been put at Rs. 145.18 crores.

As many as 10 major bridges, 102 minor bridges, five road over bridges, one road under bridge, 68 level crossings, including one unmanned, 10 crossing stations, five flag stations and three halting stations come under the stretch.

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