Doubling, a long pending railway infrastructure to help operate more trains

Doubling, a long pending railway infrastructure to help operate more trains

MADURAI: Though there was lot of ambiguity over whether Tamil Nadu would gain much from the recent railway budget, it has indeed been largely benevolent towards the state. Doubling, a long-pending railway infrastructure has been provided to help operate more trains. With Chengalpet - Villupuram section waiting for inspection and adequate funds allotted to Villupuram - Dindigul section, rail users believe the region will get adequate push for train connectivity in the coming years. Many consider the doubling work between Madurai and Kanyakumari as the most salient feature of the budget.

"Our region has been without doubling for long in spite of high traffic and there was adequate funding for doubling in this budget. We hope things will be completed soon because for every year of delay, the railways has to spend more money on projects," S Chandramouli, vice-president of Tirunelveli Chamber of Commerce, pointed out.

M Sekaran of Air, Rail & Road Travellers Association, Trichy, said, "Initially, we had no idea about which projects will receive the funding. It is now revealed that there will be adequate funding to complete doubling till Madurai by this year," he said. Chennai - Kanyakumari is the busiest section of railways in Tamil Nadu, generating the highest returns and income. But it always received little attention, he said. "Thousands of passengers travel in unreserved coaches without reservation everyday," he said. S P Jeyapragasam, president of Tamil Nadu Foodgrains Merchants Association Limited, said that while doubling Madurai - Vanchi Maniachchi section, which has been allotted Rs 18 crore, the Madurai - Virudhunagar section should be completed in the first phase. "Virudhunagar is the centre where three railway lines from Kanyakumari, Tuticorin and Tenkasi congregate. Easing traffic between Madurai - Virudhunagar through doubling in the first phase will greatly help the railways," he said.

A fund of Rs 150 crore has been sanctioned to complete gauge conversion between Pollachi - Palakkad & Pollachi - Coimbatore. "Once it is completed, southern Tamil Nadu will get connected to Konkan railway and beyond," he said, adding that lack of funding to Madurai - Bodi was a drawback of the budget, since Theni district would be cut off from train connectivity.