THREE IMPORTANT PROJECTS FOR SOUTHERN RAILWAY APPROVED BY CABINET

THREE IMPORTANT PROJECTS FOR SOUTHERN RAILWAY APPROVED BY CABINET

239/2017-18

03-08-2017

CHENNAI

THREE IMPORTANT PROJECTS FOR SOUTHERN RAILWAY APPROVED BY CABINET

The Cabinet has approved three important projects for Southern Railway

1.Cabinet approves construction of doubling of line with electrification between Thiruvananthapuram and Kanniyakumari

The Cabinet Committee o­n Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of double line with electrification between Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala and Kanniyakumari in Tamil Nadu.The total length of the line will be 86.56 km.  The estimated cost of the Project will be Rs.1431.90 crore and completion cost of Rs.1552.94 crore with 5% escalation per annum.  The project is likely to be completed in four years by 2020-21.  The project will generate direct employment during construction for 20.77 lakh mandays.

The project would not o­nly speed up the operation of goods and coaching trains, but also provide additional capacity for meeting the increase in traffic in future.The section is heavily passenger oriented which also serve the goods traffic from nearby ports.  Operations from Vizhinjam port is likely to start by 2019 and 30% of its gateway traffic is likely to be handled by Railways.  Present line capacity of Thiruvananthapuram-Nagarcoil section of this route has already saturated which is causing heavy detention to trains moving towards Kanniyakumari and Chennai.   Line capacity of this route needs to be enhanced to meet the demands for additional trains and smooth movement of trains through the route.  Hence, doubling of Thiruvananthapuram and Kanniyakumari line needs to be taken up.

2.Cabinet approves construction of doubling of line with electrification between Madurai-Vanchi and Maniyachchi-Tuticorin

The Cabinet Committee o­n Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of double line with electrification between Madurai-Vanchi and Maniyachchi-Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu. 

The total length of the line will be 160 km. The estimated cost of the Project will be Rs.1182.31 crore and completion cost of Rs.1272.51 crore with 5% escalation per annum. The project is likely to be completed in four years by 2020-21. The project will generate direct employment during construction for 38.40 lakh mandays.

The project would not o­nly speed up the operation of goods and coaching trains, but also provide additional capacity for meeting the increase in traffic in future.

Demands are being received for introduction of additional trains for this area to serve the local people, the ever increasing tourists desiring to visit the area and the traffic originating to/from Ports. Present Line Capacity utilisation of the section o­n trunk route is 106% which is likely to increase to 154% in next four years. This would cause detention to passenger and goods trains o­n trunk route and that originating to/from Tuticorin Port in future if double line is not provided o­n this 160 km section. Hence, doubling of Madurai-Vanchi Maniyachchi-Tuticorin with electrification needs to be taken up.

3.Cabinet approves construction of doubling of line with electrification between Vanchi-Maniyachchi- Nagercoil via Tirunelveli

The Cabinet Committee o­n Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of double line with electrification between Vanchi-Maniyachchi- Nagercoil via Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu.

The total length of the line will be 102 km. The estimated cost of the Project will be Rs.1003.94 crore and completion cost of Rs.1114.62 crore with 5% escalation per annum. The project is likely to be completed in four years by 2020-21. The project will generate direct employment during construction for 24.48 lakh mandays.

The project would not o­nly speed up the operation of goods and coaching trains, but also provide additional capacity for meeting the increase in traffic in future.

Vanchi-Maniyachchi- Nagercoil via Tirunelveli is an important trunk route serving Southern end of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The section is heavily passenger oriented which also serve the goods traffic from nearby ports. Present line capacity of the section has already gone beyond 90% which is causing detention to the moving trains. Line capacity of this route needs to be enhanced to meet the demands for additional trains and smooth movement of trains through the route. Hence, doubling of Vanchi-Maniyachchi- Nagercoil via Tirunelveli with electrification needs to be taken up.

Source:Southern Railway