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Delay keeps Nagore-Karaikal BG project off the track

KARAIKAL: The laying of a new 22-km broad gauge rail line connecting Nagore in Nagapattinam district with Karaikal is being delayed by the failure of the Puducherry Government to release 50 per cent of the total project cost of Rs. 66 crore to the Railways.

Union Minister of State for Railways R.Velu said recently that the Ministry was ready to execute the work immediately if the Government paid Rs. 33 crore to the Railways.

The Ministry had also informed the Government about it.

Mr. Velu said the BG line would help pilgrims visiting Tirunallar, Tirukkadaiyur, Vaitheeswarankovil and other places from Karaikal. The Southern Railway had opened a computerised reservation centre in Karaikal recently for the benefit of Karaikal, Porayar and Tarangampadi in Nagapattinam district.

The Nagore-Karaikal rail link could be taken up immediately after the completion of the gauge conversion between Tiruvarur and Nagore in six months.

Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy said a few months ago that the Government was taking steps for getting Rs. 33 crore from the Union Government as the Union Territory was running with funds allocated by the Centre.

Lt. Governor Mukut Mithi said at a function in Karaikal recently that Puducherry had requested the Centre to provide Rs. 33 crore but was yet to get a reply.

A.M.H. Nazeem (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), Leader of the Opposition in the Puducherry Assembly and MLA of Karaikal North, appealed to the Puducherry Government to release Rs.33 crore from its funds without waiting for the Centre’s sanction.

S.P. Selvashanmugham, senior lawyer in Karaikal and convener of the Karaikal Struggle Group, said the Puducherry Government was giving “step-motherly treatment” to Karaikal region.

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