Tamil Nadu - Vellore   

Katpadi-Vellore Cantonment BG line opened

VELLORE: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Anbumani Ramadoss inaugurated the newly converted, 10-km-long broad gauge line, with electrification, between Katpadi and Vellore Cantonment and flagged off a passenger train from Vellore Cantonment to Tirupati through Katpadi, at a function held at the Cantonment station on Monday.

He also inaugurated the station building, renovated at a cost of Rs.5 crore.

Speaking after the inauguration, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss complimented Minister of State for Railways R. Velu on the efforts he had made for gauge conversion in Tamil Nadu, and the modernisation schemes implemented in the State in the past four-and-a-half years. He was responsible for obtaining for Tamil Nadu one-third of the entire allocation for the Railways.

He said the vast circulating area of the Cantonment station would be greened, and a walking pathway created for walkers.

Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss said railway officials always had the tendency of negating any proposal put forward, citing rules. “We do not need officials who cite rules and block welfare measures.” The gauge conversion between Katpadi and Vellore Cantonment was possible because of the efforts of officials who approached the project with a positive attitude.

Mr. Velu said that thanks to the efforts made by the Railway Ministry under the United Progressive Alliance government, the Railways earned a profit of Rs.9,000 crore in the first year, Rs.15,000 crore in the second year, Rs.20,000 crore in the third year, Rs.25,000 crore in the fourth year. It was expected to net Rs.1,00,000 crore at the end of the government’s five-year term. Five hundred km of metre-gauge track in Tamil Nadu had been converted into broad gauge this year, and the rest would be covered in the next six months.

He said the cost of the 161-km gauge conversion between Katpadi and Villupuram had been revised to Rs.330 crore. While the metre-gauge line between Katpadi and Vellore Cantonment had been converted at a cost of Rs.35 crore, he had asked the officials to complete the remaining work in the Katpadi-Villupuram section before March.

The renovations at the Vellore Cantonment station include the construction of a high- level platform, platform shelters, computerised reservation centre, high mast lights, parcel office, cycle and car park, signal and telecommunication building and a foot over-bridge.

For the benefit of pilgrims and office-goers, three passenger trains will be operated between Vellore Cantonment and Tirupati, and two passenger trains between Cantonment and Arakkonam, all through Katpadi, from Tuesday. No. D162 will leave Cantonment at 5.55 a.m. and reach Tirupati at 9 a.m.; D164 will leave cantonment at 10.10 a.m. and reach Tirupati at 1.15 p.m.; and D166 will leave Cantonment at 4.55 p.m. and reach Tirupati at 7.45 p.m. No 200 will leave Cantonment at 9.45 a.m. and reach Arakkonam at 11.50 a.m. and 192 will leave Cantonment at 4.40 p.m. and reach Arakkonam at 6.45 p.m.

D169 will leave Tirupati at 2.45 a.m. and reach Cantonment at 5.40 a.m.; 161 will leave Tirupati at 6.50 a.m. and reach Cantonment at 9.40 a.m. and 163 will leave Tirupati at 1.35 p.m. and reach Cantonment at 4.37 p.m. No 191 will leave Arakkonam at 7.05 a.m. and reach Cantonment at 9.05 a.m. and 199 will leave Arakkonam at 12.30 p.m. and reach Cantonment at 2.35 p.m.

R. Ramanathan, Chief Administrative Officer, Construction, Southern Railway; said the broad-gauge track between Katpadi and Cantonment had three stations, 27 minor bridges, three major bridges and four level crossings.

Vellore MP K.M. Khader Mohideen; Mayor P. Karthikeyan; and MLAs T.K. Raja (Tirupattur) and K.L. Elavazagan (Arcot) spoke.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

CMC urged to raise intake of MBBS students
Katpadi-Vellore Cantonment BG line opened

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu