Ms Gandhi to dedicate new rail line on Aug 12

Chennai, Aug 4 (UNI) Congress president and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi will dedicate the newly converted Rameswaram-Manamadurai broad gauge railway line to the nation on August 12.

The much-awaited function, originally scheduled for August six, could not be held that day as Ms Gandhi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi were preoccupied with some other programmes.

Confirming the fresh date, Minister of State for Railways R Velu told UNI that Ms Gandhi would flag off the inaugural passenger special between Rameswaram and Chennai at the function to be held at Rameswaram island at 1600 hrs.

He said Ms Gandhi, accompanied by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, would reach Madurai by flight, from where she would proceed to the function venue by a helicopter.

Besides Ms Gandhi, the function would be attended by Mr Karunanidhi, central and state ministers among others, he said.

Railway sources said the inauguration of the newly built sector assumed significance in view of the conversion of the line on historic Pamban bridge across the Bay of Bengal between Pamban and Mandapam.

Railways had taken up this task by using the indigenous technology provided by Structural Engineering Research Centre, Chennai and IIT Madras.

After the inauguration of the new line, the daily express train from Chennai to Rameswaram via Madurai would leave Chennai Egmore station at 1700 hrs and reach Rameswaram at 0515 hrs the next day.

In its return, the train would leave Rameswaram at 2230 hrs and reach here at 1115 hrs.

The Madurai-Rameswaram passenger train would leave Madurai at 0630 hrs and reach Rameswaram at 1030 hrs. In its return, the train would leave Rameswaram at 1800 hrs and reach Madurai at 2145 hrs.

Efforts were on to introduce one more passenger train in this section, the sources added.

UNI