The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Velu to seek Planning Commission’s approval

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Sunday, Sep 23, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Velu to seek Planning Commission’s approval

Staff Reporter

ARIYALUR: Minister of State for Railways R. Velu said on Saturday that he would shortly meet the Deputy Chairman of the Union Planning Commission to request in-principle approval for the Rs. 822-crore Villupuram-Dindigul doubling and electrification project.

Speaking to reporters at the Ariyalur station, he said the project had been rejected by the Commission.

However, the Railways would explain the benefits the 273-km project would yield: increased passenger earnings and freight movements and connectivity to Tuticorin and Cuddalore ports.

Opposition to transfer

As for the opposition to the Railway Ministry’s decision to transfer a 79 km Pollachi-Palakkad/Kinathukadavu stretch from the Madurai Division to the Palakkad Division, Mr. Velu said the move would not affect the viability of the Madurai Division.

Mr. Velu said a zone or a division was formed on the basis of workload, accessibility and proximity, and for administrative and operational reasons, and not for any ethnic or regional consideration.

Passenger ameneties

He said passenger amenities would be provided at 61 of the 107 ‘E’ class stations in the Tiruchi division at a cost of Rs. 16.7 crore.

A sum of Rs. 35 crore was sanctioned for the Tiruchi Division during the current fiscal for modernisation of important stations, including Tiruchi Junction, Thanjavur, Puducherry, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Kumbakonam and Tiruvarur, he said.

Tenders floated

He said tenders had been floated for the Tiruchi-Madurai electrification work.

Earlier, Mr. Velu inspected the Ariyalur station where electrification and traffic facility works were being carried out.

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