Date:16/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/16/stories/2008041657740600.htm

Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

Rs. 18-crore works to be taken up to improve passenger amenities

Staff Reporter

Tiruchi division poised for a quantum jump in earnings: DRM

— PHOTO: R. M. RAJARATHINAM

Rewarding moment: Asha Jat giving away an award to C. K. Sivaraj, left, Public Relations Officer, in Tiruchi on Tuesday. R. C. Jat, second from right, Divisional Railway Manager, is seen.

TIRUCHI: The Tiruchi railway division will spend about Rs. 18 crore on improving passenger amenities in various stations during the current fiscal, Divisional Railway Manager R.C. Jat said on Tuesday.

By the end of the current financial year, the stations where works on passenger amenities were under way will sport a different look, he said while distributing meritorious certificates to railway personnel at the 53rd Railway Week celebrations here.

Besides major stations, the railway administration was also providing necessary amenities in smaller stations. Works were in progress at Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Srirangam, Ariyalur, Vriddhachalam, Villupuram and Pondicherry stations besides Tiruchi junction.

The division had spent Rs. 13 crore on passenger amenities during 2007-08. With many important lines scheduled to be converted into broad gauge this fiscal, the The goods earnings was poised to increase to Rs. 165 crore in 2008-09 from Rs. 120 crore in 2007-08, while the passenger earnings was poised to increase to Rs. 135 crore from Rs. 120 crore.

Conversion work

Mayiladuthurai-Sirkazhi strech, where the conversion work was being carried out as part of Villupuram-Mayiladuthurai gauge conversion project, would be opened by May-end. The Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, which was executing the work, had promised to complete the conversion work from Sirkazhi to Villupuram by 2008.

The stretch from Katpadi and Vellore Cantonment would be opened by May; Vellore Cantonment to Tiruvannamalai by December; and Tiruvannamalai to Villupuram by March. The division was able to save Rs. six crore during 2007-08 by implementing various innovative measures.

Mr. Jat said that excellent industrial relations had led to improved performance adding greater efforts would be taken to achieve better results in the current year.

Additional Divisional Railway Manager S. Ramasubbu, Southern Railway Mazdoor Union divisional president Rajendran and Dakshin Railway Employees’ Union divisional president M.S. Unnikrishnan spoke.