Date:08/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/08/stories/2007070852730600.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Sonia Gandhi to open Rameswaram line

Special Correspondent

Broad gauge link to be inaugurated after Presidential election

Chennai: United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad will inaugurate the broad gauge (BG) link to Rameswaram from the mainland. The Southern Railway is awaiting dates from them for the inauguration.

Announcing this to reporters here on Saturday, Minister of State for Railways R. Velu said that earlier the Ministry planned to invite President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for the inauguration. As he had expressed his inability to attend the function the administration had decided to invite Ms. Sonia Gandhi, Mr. Lalu Prasad and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi to the event.

The BG link would be inaugurated after the Presidential election.

Mr. Velu said that the zonal administration had sent proposals for gauge conversion of the Madurai – Bodi line, doubling of the Madurai – Maniyachchi – Tuticorin/ Nagercoil, and electrification of the Madurai – Tuticorin sections. The proposals had to be approved by various Central Government agencies before getting the final clearance for implementation.

Gauge conversion of the Vriddhachalam – Salem and Tenkasi- Shenkottai sections had already been completed and after the Commissioner of Railway Safety’s inspection the new lines would be opened for traffic. Other projects to be completed before the current financial year were gauge conversion of the Tirunelveli – Tiruchendur, Villupuram – Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur – Nagore, Karaikudi – Manamadurai sections, and doubling of the Irugur - Coimbatore and Dindigul – Madurai sections.

Steady revenue growth

The Minister said that there had been a steady growth in the revenue earnings of the Southern Railway. Its passenger earnings in the first three months were Rs.473 crore as against Rs.390 crore in the same period last year. Total earnings, including freight and sundry, were Rs.792 crore in the first three months as against Rs.715 crore during the same period last year. There had been a nine per cent growth in the total number of passengers in the first three months.

PRS centre inaugurated

Earlier, presiding over the inauguration of the new passenger reservation service (PRS) centre at Tiruvanmiyur, the Minister said that there was no dearth of funds for improving passenger amenities. Though the budget allocation for the current year was Rs.40 crore, Southern Railway had been permitted to spend up to Rs.100 crore. Thanks to heavy surplus funds, the zone had received more funds for various ongoing projects.

Union Minister for Shipping and Transports T.R. Baalu, inaugurating the PRS centre, complemented the Railway Ministry for undertaking various projects for improving the infrastructure in the State, which in turn would induce economic development.

Chennai Mayor M. Subramanian said that the Corporation was aiming at providing congestion-free roads in the city.

General Manager Thomas Varghese, welcoming the gathering, said the Tiruvanmiyur reservation centre would be the 94th in Tamil Nadu and the 31st in the Chennai Division. It was set up at a cost of Rs.8 lakh.