The Hindu : Front Page : Funds for doubling Dindigul-Madurai section during next fiscal, says Velu

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Monday, Feb 12, 2007
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Funds for doubling Dindigul-Madurai section during next fiscal, says Velu

Staff Reporter

Between Madurai and Dindigul

DINDIGUL: Funds for doubling the Rs.80-crore Dindigul-Madurai section would be sanctioned during the next financial year, said R. Velu, Union Minister of State for Railways.

Talking to mediapersons here on Sunday, he said that budget hotels would be constructed in Chennai, Madurai, Rameswaram, Coimbatore and Thiruvananthapuram. Land had been identified for the purpose in Madurai, he said.

Ruling out the possibility of privatising railways, he said participation of private sector would be encouraged in certain service areas where people stood to gain.

The annual revenue of Dindigul station was Rs.8 crore. Development works worth Rs.1.40 crore had been completed. Laying of concrete apron on first platform was over. Construction of new building to house parcel and reservation offices was under way.

Additional automatic platform ticket vending machine, passenger operating enquiry terminal and electronic coach indication system were installed.

Interactive voice response system (IVRS) would function from April 1. Work to enhance facilities at a cost of Rs.3 crore was under progress.

A sum of Rs.2.6 crore would be allotted next year to extend the foot over-bridge from second platform to the circulating area, Mr. Velu said.

Reacting to AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa's remarks, he said Rs.15-crore work to develop infrastructure was on in Salem, Coimbatore, Tirupur and Erode stations. More funds would be allotted for gauge conversion of Madurai-Coimbatore section next year, he said. Additional Divisional Railway Manager M. Suyambulingam was present.

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