Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

More funds for doubling of Madurai-Dindigul line sought

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI, JULY 18. The Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry has sought allocation of sufficient funds for completing the Madurai-Dindigul double line project by March 2006.

In a memorandum submitted to the Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad, the president, S. Rethinavelu, said the Madurai-Dindigul section was over-utilised. Since more trains could be introduced on this route, the doubling of the broad gauge track was sanctioned last year at an estimated cost of Rs. 96 crores.

However, a meagre Rs. 3 crores was allotted for the project, which was a long-felt demand of the people of the southern districts. Steps should be taken for early completion of the project to operate new trains. The doubling of BG line between Kanyakumari and Chennai Egmore should also be taken up in phases.

The survey report for laying a line between Madurai and Kottayam was shelved, owing to paucity of funds. However, this project should be taken up, since it would serve as a trade link between Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The proposal to lay a BG line between Dindigul and Sabarimalai and between Madurai and Tuticorin (through Arupukottai) should also be considered.

Mr. Rethinavelu said traders had been demanding the extension of the Jodhpur-Chennai Central Express (through Ahmedabad) up to Nagercoil, as it would provide a direct link to northern destinations. The Hyderabad-Chennai Express should be extended up to Madurai, since there was no direct train to Hyderabad from the southern districts. This would also help passengers get over the difficulty of going from the Chennai Egmore to Chennai Central stations to board the Hyderabad-bound trains.

He said pilgrims and tourists visiting Rameswaram were facing problems following the closure of the Madurai-Mana madurai section for gauge conversion (as a part of the Madurai-Rameswaram gauge conversion). The Southern Railway should introduce an express train on the meter gauge between Virudhunagar and Rameswaram through Aruppukottai and Manamadurai, so that passengers could travel up to Virudhunagar and change over to reach Rameswaram by train.

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