The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : Rajapalayam-Tenkasi section likely to be opened on Sept. 20

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 08, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Rajapalayam-Tenkasi section likely to be opened on Sept. 20

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI, SEPT. 7. The newly laid Rajapalayam-Tenkasi broad gauge section is likely to be inaugurated on September 20.

The Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad, is expected to flag off the Tenkasi-Chennai (weekly) Superfast Express, railway sources said.

Accompanied by the Minister of State for Railways, R. Velu, Mr. Lalu Prasad may visit Rameswaram to inspect the ongoing Madurai-Manamadurai gauge conversion work and the Pamban Bridge.

However, an official communication confirming Mr. Lalu's visit is awaited.

The 61-km Rajapalayam-Tenkasi stretch has been converted into broad gauge at a cost of Rs. 90 crores.

The Commissioner of Railway Safety, Pranab Kumar Sen, conducted a three-day inspection of the track and cleared the section for train operations on July 15.

The section is part of the Rs. 577.61-crore Virudhunagar-Tenkasi-Tirunelveli/Tiruchendur-Kollam project, which was sanctioned in 1997-98.

The Virudhunagar-Rajapalayam broad gauge line was inaugurated on June 1, 2003. Engineers hope that the Tenkasi-Shencottah stretch will be converted by March 2005.

Chamber's plea

The Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry has appealed to the Railway Ministry to increase the frequency of the proposed Tenkasi-Chennai Egmore-Tenkasi Superfast Express to thrice a week.

Besides the new train, a link train should be operated from Tenkasi for connecting a few express trains starting from Madurai. The Madurai-Rajapalayam-Madurai passenger train should be extended up to Tenkasi, the president, S. Rethinavelu, said.

Welcoming the introduction/extension of a few trains in the Southern Railway, he said the diversion of the Tuticorin-Mysore Express through Dharmapuri and Hosur would help to reduce the running time.

The introduction of the Madurai-Hazrat Nizamuddin Tamil Nadu Sampark Kranti Express (bi-weekly) would cater for passengers bound for the southern destinations, he said.

Madurai-Chennai passenger sought

Many consumer organisations have planned to meet Mr. Lalu Prasad, to demand a fast passenger train between Madurai and Chennai Egmore.

The need for a passenger train between the two cities has been a long-pending demand of the passengers in this part of the State, they said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu

News Update

Stories in this Section

Rajapalayam-Tenkasi section likely to be opened on Sept. 20

All Govt. schools to get phone facility soon

Adequate allocation sought for water scheme maintenance

GOs on school buildings: court directive to Govt. counsel

Measures planned to promote sports

Punishment for police driver stayed

`Repeal POTA'

`Police failed to provide security'

Grievance day meeting tomorrow

Around the City

In Madurai Today