Survey for freight corridor begins

Madurai, Jan 11 (UNI) A survey on the feasibility of an exclusive freight corridor, linking major ports in Mumbai and Kolkata with Chennai, has begun, according to a top Southern Railway (SR) official.

Talking to newspersons here last night, SR General Manager Rakesh Chopra said an International Consultancy firm-- Deloitte and Touche-- had been entrusted with the task of conducting the survey.

Similarly, talks were on between the Railway Ministry and Tamil Nadu Government on the feasibility of operating High Speed Trains between Chennai, Madurai and Coimbatore, he added.

Stating that the doubling of Madurai-Dindigul broadgauge was expected to be completed by June this year, Mr Chopra said the SR would also take up the doubling of broadgauge between Chengalpattu and Villupuram.

To a query, he said Public-Private-Partnership projects were coming up in a big way in the SR. Mr Chopra also said the Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram Central stations were all set to become 'world-class' in terms of passenger service.

He said the Railways had completed electrification of 1,300 km stretch in the zone and at least an additional 100 kms would be completed in a couple of years.

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