Madurai-Dindigul track doubling to be over by month-end: General Manager
MADURAI: The second broad gauge track between Kodaikanal Road and Madurai, part of the Madurai-Dindigul track doubling project, would be thrown open for traffic by May, Southern Railway General Manager Rakesh Chopra said.
After concluding a day-long inspection of railway infrastructure between Tiruchi and Madurai here on Friday, Mr. Chopra told reporters that the project was expected to be completed by the month-end. Trains would be run on the new track, between Kodaikanal Road and Madurai, after it is cleared for traffic by the Commissioner of Railway Safety.
Of the 63-km-stretch of Dindigul-Madurai doubling project, the track between Dindigul and Kodaikanal Road for 22 km has already been put into use last year. However, Mr. Chopra said additional train services could not be introduced on the Chennai-Madurai sector since the double track between Madurai and Dindigul remained a small island in the sector. New train services would be possible only after double tracks were available between Chengalpattu and Dindigul. During a discussion with Madurai MP, P. Mohan, the General Manager said additional berths introduced in-between the two side berths would be removed soon. The MP had sought its removal following complaints of inconvenience expressed by the passengers.
“It is the decision of the Union Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad,” Mr. Chopra said. Mr. Chopra also promised to consider the MP’s request for operating shuttle train services between Madurai and Tiruchi. Stating that it was an annual inspection, Mr. Chopra said principal heads from the zonal railway reviewed the functioning of their respective departments in Tiruchi-Madurai sector.
The inspection was on safety aspect, condition of railway assets and the quality of services provided by the railways. They inspected railway stations, tracks, bridges, level crossings among other infrastructure. Appreciating the Madurai Railway Divisional officials for the maintenance of buildings and tracks, Mr. Chopra said signal and track failures have come down.
The Divisional Railway Manager, Anil Singhal, and the Additional DRM, D.K. Nayak, were present.
After concluding a day-long inspection of railway infrastructure between Tiruchi and Madurai here on Friday, Mr. Chopra told reporters that the project was expected to be completed by the month-end. Trains would be run on the new track, between Kodaikanal Road and Madurai, after it is cleared for traffic by the Commissioner of Railway Safety.
Of the 63-km-stretch of Dindigul-Madurai doubling project, the track between Dindigul and Kodaikanal Road for 22 km has already been put into use last year. However, Mr. Chopra said additional train services could not be introduced on the Chennai-Madurai sector since the double track between Madurai and Dindigul remained a small island in the sector. New train services would be possible only after double tracks were available between Chengalpattu and Dindigul. During a discussion with Madurai MP, P. Mohan, the General Manager said additional berths introduced in-between the two side berths would be removed soon. The MP had sought its removal following complaints of inconvenience expressed by the passengers.
“It is the decision of the Union Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad,” Mr. Chopra said. Mr. Chopra also promised to consider the MP’s request for operating shuttle train services between Madurai and Tiruchi. Stating that it was an annual inspection, Mr. Chopra said principal heads from the zonal railway reviewed the functioning of their respective departments in Tiruchi-Madurai sector.
The inspection was on safety aspect, condition of railway assets and the quality of services provided by the railways. They inspected railway stations, tracks, bridges, level crossings among other infrastructure. Appreciating the Madurai Railway Divisional officials for the maintenance of buildings and tracks, Mr. Chopra said signal and track failures have come down.
The Divisional Railway Manager, Anil Singhal, and the Additional DRM, D.K. Nayak, were present.
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