The Hindu : Front Page : Villupuram-Mayiladuturai broad gauge track to be inspected by January end

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Villupuram-Mayiladuturai broad gauge track to be inspected by January end

Syed Muthahar Saqaf

TIRUCHI: The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) is expected to inspect the newly laid broad gauge track between Villupuram and Mayiladuturai by this month-end. The completion of mandatory inspection and clearance by the CRS will pave the way for the opening of this section which was closed in 2006 for gauge conversion work and facilitate resumption of direct train services on the main line to Chennai from towns like Thanjavur, Kumbakonam and Mayiladuturai.

The trial run of a train on the BG track was conducted a few days ago to ascertain its condition and ensure safety stipulations. A goods train will be run in a few days on this track to further confirm its strength and viability.

Regular train services in the 122-km section would resume once the CRS gives the go-ahead. Efforts would be taken to resume all trains that were operated in the section during the pre-closure period, S. Subramhanyan, Divisional Railway Manager, said while speaking at a meeting of the Consumer Protection Council, Tamil Nadu, here on Thursday.

The Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd, executing the project, has already completed the stretch between Thanjavur and Mayiladuturai and opened it for passenger traffic. The project involved construction of a two-km long bridge across the Coleroon river, besides 31 major bridges and 290 minor bridges.

Mr. Subramhanyan attributed the delay to the challenge in construction of the bridge across the Coleroon forcing the railways to revise the design from the safety point of view.

A cross section of travellers in delta districts is of the view that the Tiruchi Railway Division authorities should ensure that the inspection by the CRS is held at the earliest.

The suspension of services in this section for over three years has badly hit the travelling public . “Any further delay in opening the section will cause hardship to the common people,” they pointed out.

Trade bodies such as the Thanjavur Chamber of Commerce and Industry have appealed to the Railways to take the initiative to resume all trains on the main line which were suspended in the wake of BG conversion project.

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