CRS inspects Valladi-Palanganatham line

Commissioner of Railway Safety, Southern Circle, Bangalore, S.K. Mittal conducted inspection on the double line between Valadi and Kallakudi Palanganatham falling in the Tiruchi-Villupuram chord line section on Friday.

During the day-long checks, Mr. Mittal inspected the new broadgauge track laid in the 25-km stretch from Valadi to Kallakudi Palanganatham railway stations, level crossings and overhead electrical equipment, besides traction substations.

He was accompanied by Chief Project Manager, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), Pradeep Gaur, Chief Administrative Officer, Construction, S. Vijayakumaran, Divisional Railway Manager, Madurai and in charge of Tiruchi Division Ajai Rasthogi, Additional Divisional Railway Manager, Tiruchi, S.A. Abdul Rahman, and top railway officers. Mr. Mittal commenced his exercise from Kallakudi Palanganatham by inspecting the entire stretch on a motor trolley. As part of his inspection, he also checked the four major bridges, 80 minor bridges, 13 level crossings, and four stations. Concluding his motor trolley inspection in the evening, Mr. Mittal then conducted a high speed trial in a special train. The speed trial started from Valadi railway station and ended at Pullambadi where a new station building has been constructed to replace the old one.

Mr. Mittal also ascertained the manpower requirement for the section.

Only after the CRS gives his mandatory safety clearance can the double line section be thrown open to passenger traffic, railway sources said. The double line forms part of the 270-km Villupuram-Dindigul doubling project being executed by RVNL, a Government of India enterprise.

Doubling works were split into two stretches – Valadi to Kallakudi Palanganatham and Kallakudi Palangantham to Ariyalur – and works commenced simultaneously.