Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

Chennai-Madurai double line by 2011

MADURAI: With the Railway Budget sanctioning a broad-gauge double line between Villupuram and Dindigul, the Chennai Egmore-Madurai double line with electrification will be operational by 2011.

It will help to reduce the travel time between the two cities, besides paving the way for introduction of more trains to southern destinations.

According to M. Suyambulingam, Chief Engineer (Southern Railway), Rs. 100 crore was allocated for the ongoing Madurai-Dindigul line doubling project that would be completed by June. The doubling of the Chennai-Villupuram section had already been sanctioned. And the doubling had been completed between Chennai and Chengalpattu. Work along the 270-km Villupuram-Dindigul section would be over in three years.

“By 2011, we will have a broad-gauge double line between Chennai Egmore and Madurai with electrification. Since stoppage of trains for crossings will be eliminated, the running time on the 497-km stretch will come down by at least an hour. We will be able to operate the Madurai-Chennai-Madurai Vaigai Express in seven hours,” he told The Hindu on Wednesday.

Mr. Suyambulingam said the budget allotted Rs.1,200 crore for gauge conversion, doubling and other projects. While Rs.75 crore was earmarked for the conversion of the Shencottah-Punalur ghat section, Rs. 65 crore and Rs. 60 crore was set aside for the conversion of the Dindigul-Palani-Pollachi and Virudhunagar-Manamadurai sections.

The Madurai-Bodi section, the last of metre-gauge route in the Madurai Division, would also be taken up for gauge conversion.

Escalators costing Rs. 5.7 crore had been sanctioned for platforms 1, 2, 3 and 8 at Madurai Junction.

Madurai Divisional Railway Manager Hemant Kumar said the budget had provided a good connectivity for pilgrims.

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