Rs.4.9-crore plan for railway works

Tuticorin: The pit line would be lengthened and yard remodelled on a total outlay of Rs. 4.9 crore to augment the infrastructure at Tuticorin railway station, said Hemant Kumar, Divisional Railway Manager, Southern Railway (Madurai division).

Speaking to The Hindu here on Saturday, he said that once the project was completed in 2009-10, the pit line would accommodate 24 coaches, instead of the present 21 now.

Cement concrete aprons would be laid under sleepers to a length of 540 metres each at tracks on platforms 1 and 2 in Tuticorin at a cost of Rs. 90 lakh. Since ballasts had been laid between sleepers now, night soil and waste stagnated, emanating stench. The project, to be taken up after getting clearance from the General Manager of Southern Railway, was expected to be completed in a year.

Road over-bridges


Mr. Kumar said that the railways had requested the Collector to ask the Highways Department to prepare a plan for unidirectional road over-bridges at railway gates 1 and 2 to ease traffic congestion in the town. The railways would build them on a cost sharing basis with the State government.

A Rs.28-lakh scheme had been chalked out to beautify Tuticorin station. The entrance to the station would be widened, circulating area in front of the main building improved to allow more space for parking vehicles, and greenery established.

Broad gauge train services on Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli sector was expected to commence in May.