The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Katpadi-Tirunelveli direct service possible in two years: Velu

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Friday, Apr 01, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Katpadi-Tirunelveli direct service possible in two years: Velu

By Our Staff Reporter

VELLORE, MARCH 31. Once gauge conversion works in Tamil Nadu, especially in the Katpadi-Villupuram section, are completed, it will be possible to operate direct services from Katpadi to Tirunelveli in another two years, R. Velu, Minister of State for Railways, said today.

He was replying to a demand made by the Vellore MLA, C. Gnanasekharan; the Katpadi MLA and former Minister, Durai Murugan; and the former Union Minister, N.T. Shanmugam, for conversion of the weekly Chennai-Nagercoil Express (via Katpadi) into a daily service.

The Tirupati-Katpadi broad gauge (BG) line would be electrified this year and orders were issued for extending the facility up to Vellore Cantonment.

A sum of Rs. 529 crores was earmarked for gauge conversion in Tamil Nadu in five years. Metre gauge (MG) lines for a length of 325 km would be converted into BG this year.

An allotment of Rs.711 crores was made under the Central Road Fund for construction of road overbridges (ROBs) across the track and at busy level-crossings.

Six ROBs would be constructed in Tamil Nadu this year at a cost of about Rs. 15 crores.

The Minister, who inaugurated an unreserved ticketing system (UTS) and six retiring rooms constructed at a cost of Rs.12.52 lakhs at Katpadi, announced that it would be a model station, where improvement works would be done and passenger amenities provided at a cost of Rs. 2.20 crores this year.

Orders were also issued for making Arakkonam a model station.

Unreserved tickets

The UTS was being introduced to cater for the needs of unreserved passengers who accounted for 92 per cent of rail travellers.

A person could buy six unreserved tickets to any station three days in advance.

K.M. Khader Mohideen, Vellore MP, requested the Minister to provide a rail link to Pernambut.

Mr. Durai Murugan pleaded for construction of ROBs at the Gudiyatham station, Karnambut and Koranthangal.

He wanted the Chennai-Coimbatore Cheran Express to halt at Katpadi.

Mr. Gnanasekharan wanted train services introduced between Katpadi and Chennai every two hours.

Mr. Shanmugam said the third, fourth and fifth platforms at Katpadi should be provided with roofs and a touch-screen facility installed for passengers to know about the ticket status.

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