Railways sets new target for freight movement

Tiruchirapalli, May 9 (UNI) Indian Railways has set itself a target of 850 million tonnes of freight movement during the current year against 785 million tonnes last year, according to Minister of State for Railways R Velu.

Addressing a press conference here today, he said the target by the end of the 11th plan was 1100 million tonnes.

He said Indian railways had registered 12 per cent growth in both passenger and goods traffic last year. Of this, passenger sector had registered a growth of 7 per cent as against the projected growth of 5 per cent during the 10th plan.

He said the ongoing electrification work between Villupuram and Tiruchirapalli was expected to be completed by December this year.

The union Planning Commission had agreed in principal for the electrification of the line between Madurai and Tuticorin and Maniyachi and Nagercoil.

He said the Railway board has ordered a survey for laying a new Broad Guage line between Chidambaram and Salem via Kumbakonam, Meensurutti, Udayarpalayam, Ariylalur, Perambalur and Athur. It has approached the union planning commission for adequate funds to provide a rail link between Tiruvannmalai and Jolarpet.

The Ongoing gauge conversion work between Tiruvarur and Nagore was expected to be completd by the middle of next month and the Nagor and Veilankann line by December 31, this year.

The Guage conversion between Katpadi and vellore cantonment and Tirunelveli Tiruchendur has been completed and clearance from the Commissioner Railway Safety was expected, he said, adding the Gauge conversion work between Vellore Cantonement and Tiruvannamalai and Tiruvannamali-Villpuram was expected to be completed by December this year and March next year, respectively.

He pointd out that the guage conversion work between Mayiladuthurai and Sirkazhi was expected to be completed by end of next month and the Villupuram-Mayiladuthurai section before the year-end. After the conversion between Mayiladuthurai and Villupuram, train can be run from Chennai Egmore to the south via Villupuram, Kumbakonam and Thanjavur, which has remained suspended for more than three years.

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