The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : `Lack of progress in gauge conversion causing hardship'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 03, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

`Lack of progress in gauge conversion causing hardship'

By Our Special Correspondent

MAYILADUTURAI, MAY 2. The slow progress of gauge conversion work on the Villupuram-Thanjavur main line is causing hardship to passengers, especially to those in and around Mayiladuturai town.

Though the Rs. 230-crore project was sanctioned five years ago, only a 38-km stretch between Kumbakonam and Thanjavur has been converted so far against the total length of 192 km. Even this was possible because of Mahamaham festival in Kumbakonam in March last.

Passengers in Cuddalore, Chidambaram and Mayiladuturai on the main line section feel that they were neglected by the railway administration though passenger traffic on the section was high with potential for increase if the entire section is converted.

They said the annual allotment for the project was meagre compared to the cost of the project. A maximum of Rs. 10 crores is allotted every year against the cost of Rs. 230 crores. However, last year due to railway's commitment to complete the conversion of the Thanjavur-Kumbakonam section, more funds were diverted to the project.

At present there is only a metre gauge line from Villupuram to Mayiladuturai via Cuddalore and Kumbakonam. From Kumbakonam BG line is available to Thanjavur, Tiruchi and other southern districts.

In the absence of a broad gauge line, passengers to southern districts especially to Tiruchi, Madurai, Tirunelveli and Nagercoil from Mayiladuturai now have to switch over to broad gauge at Kumbakonam for their onward journey. According to passengers, a number of them travel from here to Tiruchi daily for purchases. Though buses are frequent on this route, they are not convenient, especially to senior citizens. Travelling by train is not only cheaper but also safe compared to buses.

They feel that if the Mayiladuturai-Kumbakonam section was converted it would make their travel convenient, as it would provide a direct BG link from here to the southern districts.

According to Southern Railway sources, the conversion work will be taken up in the current financial year itself but the exact date of beginning the work is yet to be decided.

As it is a small stretch of 32 km the conversion would be completed in a short time.

But the passengers want early inauguration of the work to bring Mayiladuturai in the railway BG map.

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