The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : 2007: MRTS to Velachery

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 06, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

2007: MRTS to Velachery

Staff Reporter

Work will be over by December: Minister

TAMBARAM: The Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) between Tirumylai and Velachery would be opened in January 2007, Union Minister of State for Railways R. Velu said on Thursday.

He said the laying of pile foundations between Taramani and Velachery stations would be completed by June this year and the remaining work by December. "The MRTS service to Velachery will be a gift to the people for the new year 2007," the Minister said. He was speaking to reporters after inspecting the works at the Taramani and Perungudi stations and the pile foundation laying between Taramani and Velachery.

Additional funds

The RDSO, Lucknow, IIT-Madras, and Anna University had reported that the mud embankment was not fit for operating MRTS services, the Minister said. Following this, the Railway Ministry earmarked an additional Rs. 30 crore to operate the MRTS between Taramani and Velachery on an elevated structure.

For this, 221 pillars were required, of which 21 had been completed. The laying of tracks and electrification of the route would take six months.

Design flaw

The Minister, while inspecting the platform under construction at Taramani, asked the engineers if there was an arrangement for commuters to reach the opposite platform. He was told that the commuters had to go the first floor or the ground floor and get across using lifts or escalators. "That is a technical flaw in the basic design," he told engineers and asked for a detailed report.

When reporters wanted to know the status of electrification of the broad gauge section between Villupuram and Tiruchi, Mr. Velu replied that Rs. 1,500 crore was sanctioned in the Tenth Five Year Plan to electrify 1,800 km. He added that with the sanctioned amount, they could electrify only 300 to 350 km a year.

The Mysore Express operating till Thanjavur would be extended till Kumbakonam, he said in reply to a question. He said the survey for a new railway line from Chennai to Sriperumbudur via Poonamallee was not yet complete.

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