Pondicherry: Union Minister of State for Railways R. Velu has said that the Pondicherry railway station is among the five selected under the model stations scheme in the Tiruchirapalli Division.

Following this, Rs. 1.5 crore would be spent to provide adequate infrastructure facilities and to improve passenger amenities.

The Minister was presiding over a function at the local railway station on Sunday when the Chief Minister N. Rangasamy flagged off the first electric train (express) service between Pondicherry and Chennai on the newly-electrified broad gauge track.

Mr. Velu said that a budget hotel would be constructed within the premises of the railway station for tourists. The project would totally involve an expenditure of Rs. 88 crore.

Gauge conversion had been completed between Cuddalore and Vridachalam and the entire stretch up to Salem would be converted into broad gauge track by October next. Once this was done passengers from Pondicherry could have train service to reach Bangalore, Mangalore and Mahe region. Mr. Velu appealed to Mr. Rangasamy to share 50 per cent of the total project outlay for laying the line from Chennai to the Union Territory on the ECR route (Mahabalipuram segment). Once this was conceded, the Railway Board would take up the project on priority after accepting it.

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