The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Villupuram-Tiruchi BG line electrification by year-end

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Friday, May 30, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Villupuram-Tiruchi BG line electrification by year-end

S. Vydhianathan

Wiring work between Villupuram and Lalgudi is over

Six substations planned between Villupuram, Madurai
Trip shed to be set up in Madurai for electric locomotives

CHENNAI: Electrification of the Villupuram-Tiruchi broad gauge line will be completed by December this year, and up to Dindigul by March next year. The works are part of the Villupuram-Tiruchi-Dindigul-Madurai electrification project.

Wiring work between Villupuram and Lalgudi, about 20 km from Tiruchi, is over though civil works such as construction of control rooms, substations, and maintenance offices are on. These works will take six months to complete, according to officials of the Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE), which is executing the project.

The railway administration has planned to operate goods services up to Ariyalur on the Villupuram-Tiruchi section, about 70 km from Tiruchi, on the electrified track. Ariyalur is a major loading centre from where cement consignments from factories is transported to destinations in the north. Soon CORE would write to the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Bangalore, for inspecting the electrified track between Villupuram and Ariyalur for safety clearance.

The official said 60 per cent of foundation work for overhead electric masts was over between Tiruchi and Dindgul. Other works would be speeded up after completing the electrification up to Tiruchi.

It would take another year to complete the electrification of double lines from Dindigul to Madurai.

Six substations had been planned between Villupuram and Madurai one each at Vridhdhachalam, Ariyalur, Tiruchi, Vyampatti, Vellodu, and Madurai. A trip shed would be set up in Madurai for electric locomotives.

Running time between Chennai and Madurai could be reduced considerably once the line was electrified. It would also facilitate introduction of more services on the section.

At present the administration was finding it difficult to meet the passenger demand as track utilisation was more than 150 per cent.

Cost escalation

The official said the project was getting delayed due to cost escalation of materials such as iron and cement. Contractors were demanding sufficient compensation for the increase in the cost of materials. This had already been brought to the notice of the Railway Board.

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