Villupuram-Tiruchi-Dindigul-Madurai electrification project

CHENNAI: The stretch between Villupuram and Ariyalur, where electrification work has been completed, has been cleared for traffic by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS).

Commissioner K.J.S Naidu inspected the newly erected electric traction (109 km) between these two stations on Thursday and Friday along with R.P. Udhaya Kumar, Chief Project Manager, Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE), Chennai, and made mandatory checks before clearing the stretch for traffic.

This portion is part of the Villupuram-Tiruchi-Dindigul-Madurai electrification project. Though the electric traction has been cleared by the CRS, it will utilised only for operating goods trains with electric locomotives for moving cement from Ariyalur and Eachenkadu to northern centres. Main line express trains with electric locomotives will be operated after completing the electrification work up to Tiruchi.

According to a CORE official, electrification work between Ariyalur and Tiruchi will be completed by January. Except the 2-km stretch between Golden Rock and Tiruchi, the rest of the portion has been completed.

“Though the stretch is very small, we are not getting the required block (suspension of traffic) to execute the work due to heavy traffic. However, we have planned to complete the electrification work before January.”

With regard to electrification from Tiruchi to Dindigul, the official said it was progressing as per schedule and would be completed by March next year. But, main line passenger trains with electric locomotives would be operated only after the electrification is completed up to Madurai, which is expected to be completed by September next year.

A detailed estimate is being prepared for electrification between Madurai and Tuticorin/ Nagecoil and will be sent to the Railway Board for clearance. Once it is cleared, tenders will be invited. CORE wants to finalise the contractors before March next year, the official added.