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Electrification work in full swing

Staff Reporter

PONDICHERRY: Electrification work on the Villupuram-Pondicherry railway line is in full swing, and the work for around 25 km has already been completed.

Once the work is over, electric trains will be introduced between Pondicherry and Villupuram. Buses take about an hour to cover the distance of 38 km.

Though the railway line technically ends at the Pondicherry Railway Station, the Pondicherry Government has extended it up to the port to facilitate easy transportation of goods.

Regular train service to Pondicherry began in July 2005 with a passenger service between Pondicherry and Chennai. The Railway Minister Velu had said that the Villupuram and Pondicherry would be electrified soon. He had also said that once this was done there would be augmented services, particularly direct train services between Pondicherry and Chennai and vice versa.

The Chief Minister, N Rangasamy, told The Hindu that the Government had allotted Rs 4.5 crore as its matching grant towards the electrification. "We have also requested the Railways to extend the proposed railway line on the East Coast segment from Chennai to Mahabalipuram up to Pondicherry. Also we have sought a rail link to Cuddalore.

Both these lines and also the electrified line up to Villupuram would help to boost our economy. The Railways is conducting a survey for the East Coast and Cuddalore projects and we hope they would consider our request", he added.

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