Tamil Nadu   

Southern Railway rules out shifting of Tuticorin station

Staff Reporter

Bandh called by DMK and its allies turns violent in Tuticorin

Tuticorin: The `deliberations' in the political circles whether to shift the Tuticorin railway station to Milavittan or not, took an ugly turn on Tuesday with the bandh called by DMK and its allies to press their demand for shifting, turned violent.

While DMK and its allies wanted the station to be shifted to Milavittan, situated about 7 km from here, to ease the traffic congestion in the town during the closure of three railway gates, their rivals AIADMK are opposing the move.

T. S. Subbiah, president, Federation for People's Right, accused that both the faction were marching ahead with a `political vision,' rather than doing any analytical study on the topic.

"Why the issue gained political significance now, after the Railways had spent crores of rupees on modernisation of the station?"

Railways stance

Speaking to The Hindu , Hemant Kumar, Divisional Railway Manager (Madurai division), ruled out the possibility of shifting the railway station to Milavittan.

"We had already invested huge amount to convert the Tuticorin station into a `model station' by carrying out infrastructure development works on a huge outlay during the last few years," he said.

Besides, projects worth Rs one crore are in the pipeline to further enhance the facilities for the comfort of the passengers, including the establishment of a pit lane.

Budget hotel

Mr. Kumar said that a budget hotel would be established by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation near Tuticorin station soon.

Flyovers

To ease the traffic congestion owing to closure of three railway gates in the town, he said the Railways had decided to build flyovers at Railway gate no: 1 and No: 2, on a cost-sharing basis with State Government agencies.

"The construction of a flyover at Railway gate No: 3 is already under way," he said.

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