The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Villupuram-Pondicherry electrified track awaits clearance from CRS

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Villupuram-Pondicherry electrified track awaits clearance from CRS

Special Correspondent

Preliminary work on Villupuram-Tiruchi section begins

CHENNAI: The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) will inspect the newly electrified Villupuram-Pondicherry broad gauge section on Thursday.

Once the CRS gives clearance for the 37 km stretch, it will be opened for passenger traffic and services will be introduced between Pondicherry and Chennai Egmore.

According to Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE) officials, the Pondicherry Administration shared 50 per cent cost of the Rs 9-crore project, meant to introduce either direct services or slip coaches to various cities from Pondicherry.

Tenders floated

Preliminary work on the electrification of the Villupuram-Tiruchi section has begun. CORE has floated tenders for erection of over-head electric (OHE) traction. Once the contractors are finalised, work will begin.

Officials say it will be possible to complete the work within 18 months. Being a 178-km stretch, the project will be taken up in two phases, between Villupuram and Vriddhachalam and from there to Tiruchi. The execution will not pose any major problem, as it is plain terrain.

Under the project three sub-stations, one each at Vriddhachalam, Ariyalur and Tiruchi, have been planned which will be linked to the State grid.

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