Tamil Nadu

Thanjavur-Tiruvarur gauge conversion work to be over by May

Staff Reporter

Rs.40 crore sought for platform extension work

TIRUCHI: The gauge conversion work between Thanjavur and Tiruvarur would be completed by May, the General Manager, Southern Railway, Thomas Varghese, said here on Friday.

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Varghese said the project got delayed owing to dearth of concrete sleepers. On the progress of other ongoing gauge conversion projects, he said the Kumbakonam-Mayiladuthurai section would be completed by March, and Tiruchi-Pudukottai section, taken up at a cost of Rs.78 crore, by August.

Mr. Varghese, who was the guest of honour at the passing out parade of Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable recruits here, said the

Southern Railway had been allocated Rs. 1,042 crore for 2006-07 to carry out various works such as gauge conversion, track doubling, provision of passenger amenities etc. This amount was higher compared to the previous fiscal for which Rs.822 crore was allotted, he said.

Signalling

The signalling sector would receive a big boost in the next fiscal as the amount allocated for it alone had been hiked from Rs.70 crore (2005-06) to Rs.134 crore (2006-07).

The Southern Railway had sent a proposal to the Railway Board seeking a separate allotment of Rs.40 crore to carry out works on extension of platform in over 100 stations, to accommodate 24-coach trains.

Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), a special purpose vehicle created to undertake project development, would carry out gauge conversion work between Villupuram and Mayiladuthurai. RVNL had been given a sum of Rs.100 crore to exclusively carry out this work, which would commence soon, he said.

A proposal sent by the Tiruchi division for construction of a subway at Srirangam and raising of platform in the station at a cost of Rs.56 lakh was being examined, he said.

Divisional Railway Manager D.K. Saraf, among other railway officials, was present.

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