Concern over pending rail projects.

Inordinate delay in completing gauge conversion projects of Madurai-Bodinaickanur and Shencottah-Punalur was raised at the divisional rail users' consultative committee members’ meeting held recently.

In the meeting chaired by Divisional Railway Manager A.K. Rastogi, the members raised their concern over these two projects that had not seen any major improvement in the last few years.

Though Madurai-Bodi gauge conversion work was sanctioned in 2009-10, no significant work had been taken up that could give hope of resuming train services in this section in near future.

'Rail services in this section were stopped in January 2010. If the metre gauge track had not been removed, at least train services could have been operated to cater to students, office-goers and spice producers,'

N. Jegatheesan, one of the representatives of Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the panel, said.

Similarly, Shencottah-Punalur gauge conversion work in the ghat section had remained a bottleneck in providing direct rail link between the southern districts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. 'This section was part of the gauge conversion project between Virudhunagar and Punalur via Tenkasi that was sanctioned in 1997-98.

Though 17 long years have passed, the work between Shencottah and Punalur still remains in limbo for want of funds,' he said.

The inordinate delay would only lead to cost escalation and further delay of the projects, he said.

Among other railway projects, the members discussed the new line approved between Madurai and Tuticorin via Aruppukottai and track doubling work between Dindigul and Chengalpattu.

Besides the committee members, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager S.T. Ramalingam and DCM N. Mahesh were present.


THE HINDU