Government for electrification of railway lines: Velu

Vellore, Tamil Nadu, Mar 18 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Railways R Velu today said Villupuram-Tiruchirapalli and Tiruchirapalli-Madurai sectors would be converted into electric lines this year and Madurai-Tuticorin and Maniyachi-Nagercoil sectors would be taken up for conversion next year.

Talking to newspersons here, he said 8,000 constables would be recruited to the Railway Protection force across the country.

Mr Velu said after the inspection of an on-going expansion project worth Rs 2.75 crore at Cantonment station here, 334 railway stations would be developed as model stations in the country.

He said electrification work of the Katpadi-Villupuram sector was in progress at an estimated cost of Rs six crore. An allocation of Rs 80 crore was made for gauge conversion of the Vellore-Thirvannamalai rail lines, he added.

He said three new sectors were announced for the state. the Tindivanam-Nagari line would be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 450 crore, Tiruvannamalai-Tindivanam for Rs 177 crore and Velankanni-Tiruthiraipoondy for Rs 92 crore, he added.

He said the Railways would spend Rs 493 crore this year to facilitate the process for passengers, compared to last year's Rs 353 crore. Rs 25 crore was allotted to Southern Railway and steps were taken to increase it to Rs 40 crore, he added.

Mr Velu said six coaches would be set-up in passenger trains, compared to four coaches earlier. Cushion seats would be proved to passengers, he added.

The minister said 93 over-bridges would be constructed in the country this year, out of which 33 would be set-up in Tamil Nadu.

He said surveillance cameras were installed at 71 railway stations to enhance security in a phased manner. The emphasis was on electrification of railways lines in the tenth plan, he added.

UNI