The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : MRTS: experts to study soil condition between Perungudi-Velachery

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 20, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

MRTS: experts to study soil condition between Perungudi-Velachery

Staff Reporter

Agreement signed with Japan to set up dedicated freight corridor between Chennai and Howrah

CHENNAI: The work between Perungudi and Velachery MRTS railway stations has been stopped due to soil conditions, said R.Velu, Union Minister of State for Railways on Wednesday.

A team of specialists from the Research Designs and Standards Organisation, Lucknow, (a wing of the Railway Ministry), IIT Madras and Anna University would study the soil condition along the stretch and feasibility of constructing an elevated structure. The team would submit a report to the Railways only after which the work could progress further.

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating an exclusive air-conditioned dormitory for women at the Central Railway Station, Mr. Velu said following undependable soil conditions on the stretch, the work had been stopped.

Located on the first floor of the railway station, the new dormitory has nine beds with almirahs for each. Apart from this, two dressing rooms have been added to the dormitory. The new facility has been created at a cost of Rs. 9 lakhs.

Recalling an incident, which led to the addition of the new facility, Mr. Velu said that when he visited the Central Railway Station for the first time after becoming the Union Minister, he happened to visit the air-conditioned dormitory for men on the ground floor. When he crosschecked with the officials whether a similar facility was available for women, they said the women were forced to stay in the nearby lodges, when their husbands stayed in the air-conditioned comfort.

On converting the Royapuram railway station into a heritage facility, he said the work had begun would be completed in three months. Improvement work had been taken up at the parcel shed in the Central Railway Station at a cost of Rs. 25 lakhs.

During the recent visit of a high-level Japanese delegation, a memorandum of understanding had been signed between the Japanese Government and the Railways to create a dedicated freight corridor. In the first phase, the work would begin between Mumbai and New Delhi at a cost of Rs. 12,000 crores.

The second would be between New Delhi and Howrah at a cost of Rs. 10,000 crores. The third phase would be between Mumbai and Howrah and the last between Chennai and Howrah.

The Japanese Government would provide funds for the first two phases as soft loan repayable in 40 years, Mr.Velu said.

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