S Rly wants more trains, amenities

V Ayyappan TNN

Feb 12, 2009

Chennai: Southern Railway has sought more trains from Chennai to Tiruchi and other southern towns via Mayiladuthurai and from Chennai to different towns in Kerala. The request is part of a wishlist — new trains, new infrastructure works and passenger amenities to meet passenger patronage in the coming years — sent to the ministry for inclusion in the 2009-10 railway budget. This year, Southern Railway’s request includes infrastructure projects and works on passenger amenities worth about Rs 375 crore. With passenger demands increasing, it has sought new trains between Tamil Nadu and Kerala and between Chennai and southern Tamil Nadu towns via Mayiladuthurai. “We’ve asked for more trains in these sectors because the passenger demands are very high. The mainline from Chennai to southern towns is saturated so we have requested sanctioning new trains via Mayiladuthurai,” said Southern Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Neenu Ittyerah. Southern Railway has also sought sanction for passenger amenities works worth Rs 145.7 crore, road overbridge or underbridge works worth Rs 50 crore, works to man level crossings and improve barriers of level crossings worth Rs 47.6 crore. According to officials, the improvement of passenger amenities at stations would cost Rs 145.7 crore. Six road overbridge and road underbridge works in place of level crossings on the Madurai-Tirunelveli, Tiruchi-Dindigul, Villupuram-Tiruchi, Shoranur-Kollam and Calicut-Mangalore sections have also been included. Works to convert nine unmanned level crossings into manned level crossings in Chennai, Salem, Tiruchi, Thiruvananthapuram and Madurai divisions at a cost of Rs 47.6 crore have also been forwarded. “These are the requirements of the zone. There is no guarantee that they will feature in the budget. The ministry will prioritise them based on the overall requirement,” Neenu said.
WISHLIST
More trains to Tiruchi and other southern towns via Myladuthurai and also to Kerala
Rs 375 cr for infrastructure projects and passenger amenities
Amenities include: improving platform shelters, raising of raillevel and medium-level platforms to high-level platforms in Chennai and Salem divisions, multilevel parking at Tiruchirapalli and Madurai