Tuticorin-Chengalpattu BG line doubling in phases

Doubling and electrification of the Tuticorin-Chengalpattu broad gauge line will be done in phases, Minister of State for Railways R. Velu said here on Saturday.

Flagging off the Chennai Central-Coimbatore (weekly) and Central-Mangalore (tri-weekly) superfast expresses, Mr. Velu said preliminary work on doubling the Madurai-Dindigul section had begun. Sanction had been given for the Chengalpattu-Villupuram section. Doubling of the remaining stretches between Villupuram-Dindigul and Madurai-Tuticorin was under consideration.

Mr. Velu said doubling of the BG line from Chennai Egmore to Tuticorin had become imperative in view of the growing passenger traffic. Southern Railway had to run special trains during festival and peak seasons on the sector.

He said in the last two years 40 new trains were introduced, services of 20 others extended and frequency of nine trains increased. As the zone was passenger oriented, the Ministry wanted to provide additional amenities. In the current financial year, the zone had been permitted to spend about Rs 40 crore.

Responding to State Transport Minister K.N. Nehru's demand for bullet train services from Chennai to Madurai and Coimbatore, the Minister said a policy decision had to be taken for introducing bullet trains.

Earlier, Mr. Nehru said the State Government would soon introduce feeder bus services from major railway stations in the State for the convenience of passengers from the North.

Source: The Hindu