Thanjavur-Tiruvarur conversion by May end

Tiruchirapalli, Mar 18 (UNI) Gauge conversion work between Thanjavur and Tiruvarur section in Tamil Nadu will be completed by May end this year, according to Thomas Varghese, General Manager, Southern Railway (SR).

Talking to reporters here yesterday, he said presently SR was running trains upto Needamangalam from Thanjavur and once the project was completed, trains would ply upto Tiruvarur. There was a problem in implementing this project due to lack of concrete sleepers, for which orders had to be placed with the Railway Board at national level, he added.

However, he was hopeful of completing it by May end Similarly guage conversion between Mayavaram and Kumbakonam section would be completed by March end, he added.

Tiruchirapalli-Pudukkottai gauge conversion work was also delayed due to lack of concrete sleepers. The Rs 78 crore work would be finished by August this year, Mr Varghese said.

He said Tiruvaru-Nagapattinam gauge conversion work was sanctioned to be completed by 2006-07, but full quota of money had not been received. However, the Railway Ministry had promised to provide necessary funds for the completion of the project during the current fiscal, he added.

Mr Varghese said, SR received Rs 1042 crore against last year's Rs 832 crore.

He said the SR had asked the railway board for a separate allotment of Rs 40 crore for extension of all platforms, pending clearance from the board.

Any train with 24 coaches can stop on extended platforms. No coaches will be outside the platforms and the SR had identified 100 railway stations for this project.

To a question, he said the SR was examining a proposal to lay a subway and raising the platform at a cost of Rs 56 lakh at the pilgrim centre of Srirangam (railway station).

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