Rly allots Rs 493 cr for passenger amenities

Chennai, May 12: The Railway Ministry has earmarked a sum of Rs 493 crore for providing passenger amenities in the country during the current year as against Rs 394 crore in the previous year.

Talking to newspersons here today on the sidelines of the foundation stone laying ceremony for a new wheel shop at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Union Minister of State for Railways R Velu said this year the Southern Railway alone would have a lion share of Rs 100 crore for this purpose, as against Rs 34 crore in the previous year.

To a question, he said the proposed doubling and electrification between Chengalpattu and Tuticorin would be carried out in two phases. Already budgetary provisions had been made to carry out the project between Chengalpattu and Villupuram, he added.

Mr Velu also pointed out that he had asked the authorities concerned to prepare a revised estimate for the gauge conversion between Madurai and Bodinayakkanur. Once this was completed, the state would become the unigauge railway network, he added.

Responding to another question, he reassured that under no circumstances, the supply of South Indian dishes like idli, vada and pongal in the railway and IRCTC-run canteens would be stopped.

The minister said efforts were on to establish a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to carry out the exclusive goods corridor between Mumbai and New Delhi and Ludhiana and Kolkata at an estimated cost of Rs 28,000 crore with financial assistance from Japan.

To a question, he said the gauge conversion betwen Tirunelveli and Tiruchendur was expected to be completed by September and train link to this famous pilgrimage centre would be available by December.

UNI