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PMK Ministers made railway projects a reality: Ramadoss

Special Correspondent

Says they ensured State received substantial allocation

S.Ramadoss

CHENNAI: Pattali Makkal Katchi leader S. Ramadoss said here on Wednesday that a number of railway projects had become a reality in the State after his party MPs became Union Ministers.

Substantial allocation

Talking to reporters, Dr. Ramadoss said PMK's Ministers of State for Railways in the previous National Democratic Alliance regime and the present United Progressive Alliance Government saw to it that Tamil Nadu received a substantial allocation for ongoing as well as new projects.

He said before the PMK Ministers took charge, only 714 km out of the 2,670 km length of metre gauge in the State had been converted. After A.K. Moorthy and, subsequently, R. Velu took charge, 698 km was converted. Conversion works of 1,168 km were in different stages of progress.

Separate division

On completion of these projects, 97 per cent of the metre gauge lines in the State would have been converted, he said, quoting statistics provided by Mr. Velu. The only metre gauge line left would be along the Madurai-Bodi section (90 km).

A separate division for Salem, which was pending for long, was sanctioned recently, he said.

The Ministry had also cleared new railway lines between Tindivanam and Nagri, Tindivanam to Tiruvannamalai and between Nagapattinam and Tiruthuraipoondi. Mr. Velu said the party's aim was to provide electrified double line from Chennai to Tuticorin and to Kanyakumari.

Gauge conversion

Efforts were on to complete gauge conversion from Villupuram to Mayiladuthurai before the year-end.

He said Rs.5,500-crore surplus capital fund was available with the Ministry, which would be utilised for completing ongoing projects.

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