Varanasi- Rameswaram train to be introduced: Minister
Special Correspondent
ARAKKONAM: A new train will be introduced between Varanasi and Rameswaram, Union Minister of State for Railways R. Velu said on Monday.
Inaugurating the stoppage of the train Nos.6222/6221 Chennai Central-Mysore-Chennai Central Cauvery Expresses at the Anvardhikhanpettai Railway Station near here, Mr. Velu said that the Planning Commission had given ‘in principle sanction’ for the conversion of the 90-km metre gauge track between Madurai and Bodinayackanur into broad gauge. This 90-km metre gauge track is the only stretch that is left out of the gauge conversion programme undertaken by the railways in Tamil Nadu.
He met the Vice-Chairman of the Planning Commission and persuaded him to include the Madurai-Bodinaickanur gauge conversion work in the plan.
The latter has accorded ‘in principle sanction’ for the scheme.
While gauge conversion has been completed in major portions, works were in progress in the remaining sections. Once the financial allocation was made for the Madurai-Bodinaickanur section, the entire metre gauge track in Tamil Nadu would have been covered under the gauge conversion programme.
The Minister said that steps would be taken to expedite the works on the conversion of the Marudalam-Melpakkam, Katpadi-Tiruvannamalai, Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur-Shencotta, Karaikudi-Manamadurai, Villupuram-Myladuthurai and Vriddachalam-Salem metre gauge sections. The Katpadi-Vellore Cantonment broad gauge track was nearing completion while the Vriddachalam-Salem broad gauge track would be completed before the end of this year. A sum of Rs.87 crore has been allotted to the Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur section, Rs.31 crore for Tiruchi-Nagore and Rs.32 crore for Pollachi-Coimbatore sections, he said.
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