Ariyalur-Kallakudi Palanganatham double track ready for trains
The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) has accorded
statutory safety clearance for operation of trains on the newly laid
double track between Kallakudi Palanganatham and Ariyalur.
The
green signal was given a few days ago by the CRS who inspected the
25-km stretch by travelling on a motor trolley and carrying out high
speed trial last month.
The CRS has initially prescribed a speed limit of 80 kmph to start with for operation of trains, officials told The Hindu.
It
could be further raised to 100 kmph. Prior to operation of trains on
the newly laid double track, the work of changing the signalling
arrangements from the existing single line to double line would be
carried out soon.
The Rail Vikas Nigam Limited
(RVNL), a Government of India enterprise, executing the doubling project
would carry out the signal changing works on this stretch.
A
detailed programme in this regard would be charted out and discussions
with Southern Railway officials were on as the work involves line block,
an official said.
Cross over connections would be
made between the existing line and the double line on this stretch that
has four stations – Kallakudi Palanganatham, Kallakudi, Sillakudi, and
Ariyalur.
RVNL officials hope to complete the works
by this month end. As part of the doubling project, new station
buildings have been built at Kallagam and Sillakudi and some additions
made to the Ariyalur station.
The platform of
Kallakudi Palanganatham station has been extended to accommodate 24
coaches. High-level platforms have been constructed at Kallagam and
Sillakudi railway stations.
The Kallakudi Palanganatham – Ariyalur segment has seven major bridges and 31 minor bridges midway.
The
RVNL took up track doubling work from Valadi to Ariyalur (50 km) as
part of the 270-km Villupuram–Dindigul line doubling project.
The
works were carried out simultaneously in two portions – Valadi to
Kallakudi Palanganatham (25 km) and from Kallakudi Palanganatham to
Ariyalur (25 km).
The Valadi–Ariyalur stretch was
chosen for track doubling as it was a crucial segment in the
Villupuram–Tiruchi chord line section witnessing heavy congestion at
night.
The Valadi–Kallakudi Palanganatham double line was commissioned and thrown open to rail traffic last year.
Officials
say congestion would substantially ease on the chord line once the
Kallakudi Palanganatham–Ariyalur double line section is thrown open to
rail traffic.
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