Rly to consider Chennai-Pondy eastcost line: R Velu

Pondicherry, Aug 6 (UNI) The Ministry of Railways would consider the setting up of a railway track from Chennai to Pondicherry on the east coast, connecting Mamallapuram, if the Pondicherry administration bears 50 per cent of the total project cost, said Union Minister of State for Railways R Velu here today.

Presiding over the function to inaugurate the newly electrified broad gauge section between Pondicherry and Villuppuram and flagging off the Express Train Services between Pondicherry and Chennai, Mr Velu said the Villuppuram-Tiruchirapplly line would be electrified at a cost of Rs 88 crore for which Rs five crore allocated this year.

He also said the demand from various quarters, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, to lay double track between Chengalpet and Tuticorin and its electrification would be considered.

Mr Velu also said Salem would soon become a division, the 68th Railway Division, and five railway stations under the division would be promoted as model stations and facilities developed.

The permission for the electrification of the line between Thiruvananthapuram and Kanyakumari at a cost of Rs 38 crore would be given this year.

More UNI PAB MSJ PM1119