The Hindu : New Delhi News : Inauguration of 4 rail projects soon: Velu

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Inauguration of 4 rail projects soon: Velu

J. Balaji

NEW DELHI: Four railway projects in Tamil Nadu will be inaugurated soon, pending approval of the Commissioner of Railway Safety, said R. Velu, Minister of State for Railways, here on Saturday.

Talking to The Hindu, he said of the projects – gauge conversion of Katpadi-Vellore (10 km); Tiruvarur-Nagore (31 km); Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur (62 km) and laying of a new line between Athipattu and Ennore (6 km) – the Tirunelveli project was a major one completed at a cost of Rs.93 crore. On the Tiruvarur-Nagore section, Rs.45 crore was spent.

The opening of the new lines would help passengers, besides boosting railway revenue as they connect important destinations in the State.

The Tirunveli-Tiruchendur section would be a boon to salt traders from Arumuganeri and other businessmen.

The line was closed for gauge conversion work in early 2006. The metre gauge line between Tirunelveli and Tiruchendur was laid in 1923 and the new broad gauge line had 187 small and medium bridges. As per earlier plan, it should have been opened in June 2007 but it got delayed due to “operational difficulties.”

The new line is expected to reduce journey time between Tirunelveli and Tiruchendur by at least 30 minutes as trains with a speed over 110 kmph could be operated.

Similarly the new line between Ennore and Athipattu would save the running time of goods trains carrying iron ore, coal, minerals and containers to the Ennore port from various Southern States, he said.

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