3 new flyovers in Tuticorin City and more new trains

Union Minister of State for Railways R. Velu has said that the Railway Ministry would consider introducing more trains to Tuticorin once the double laning work between Madurai and Dindigul was completed towards the end of current fiscal.

On 6th April, he said that at present, the track on the sector (62 km) was utilised about 130 percent of its capacity between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. the following day and hence new overnight train services could not be operated to Tuticorin.

Ruling out the possibility of shifting Tuticorin railway station to Milavittan, he said that projects worth Rs 2.06 crore are already in the pipeline to augment the facilities in the station.

Besides, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation would establish a budget hotel just outside the building.

"In all, we are planning 100 such budget hotels across the country in a phased manner,' he said.

Work on the road over bridge in progress at railway gate no. 3 would be completed before December 31.

Similar flyovers would be constructed at gates 1 and 2 on a cost-sharing basis with the State Government.

Gauge conversion between Tuticorin and Tirunelveli would be completed before September 30.

Similarly, conversion of tracks between Quilon and Punalur to broad gauge would be over this fiscal.

"We are planning to convert the entire meter gauge in the State to broad gauge over the next few years," he said. Earlier, Mr. Velu assessed the progress of construction of road over bridge at railway gate no. 3 and inspected the development works under way at the railway station.

The Divisional Railway Manager, Hemant Kumar, the Collector, R. Palaniyandi, the Divisional Railway Engineer, Robert Rajasekharan, and senior railway officials were present.

Source: The Hindu