Newly converted Trichy-Pudukkottai BG section inaugurated

Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu Jan 5 (UNI) The much awaited newly converted Broadgauge (BG) section between Tiruchirapalli and Pudukkottai was thrown open for train services here today.

Inaugurating the broadguage section and flagging off a new passenger train from Pudukkottai to Tiruchirapalli at a function here, Minister of State for Railways R Velu said development of the 78-year-old 53-km Tiruchirapalli-Pudukkottai stretch was taken up as part of the 151 km Tiruchirapalli-Manamadurai BG conversion works, for which the Railways had sanctioned Rs 188 crore.

Since the Rs 80 crore first phase of the project was completed, the second phase of conversion of BG works between Pudukkottai and Karaikudi was progressing and it would be completed before March end. The third and final phase of the works between Karaikudi and Manamadurai section of Madurai Division would be completed before the year end, he added.

He said of the total 63,000 km of the Indian Railways, 11,000 km and 2,000 km were still under metregauge and narrowguage sections respectively.

UNI