Tambaram-Chengalpattu BG line to be ready by May

By S. Vydhianathan

CHENNAI, MARCH 11. Electrification of the Tambaram-Chengalpattu BG line is almost complete and the line is expected to be available for traffic by May.

The Railway Ministry, which cleared the electrification of the Tambaram-Chengalpattu-Villupuram and Chengalpattu-Arakkonam broad gauge lines in 1999, sanctioned Rs. 10 crores in the last budget and another Rs. 10 crores for the next financial year, as against the project cost of Rs. 38.44 crores.

The project is being executed in three phases. While the electrification of the Tambaram-Chengalpattu BG section is over, the Kancheepuram-Arakkonam section will be completed by September. Preliminary work for the second phase -- between Chengalpattu and Villupuram section -- has begun. In the last phase, Kancheepuram-Arakkonam section will be electrified.

Chennai division wants early execution of Tambaram-Chengalpattu- Kancheepuram BG section as it will help extension of EMU services to Kancheepuram from Chennai. In the absence of electrified track, the administration is now operating diesel multiple unit (DMU) services between Kancheepuram and Chennai and shuttle BG trains between Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu with metre gauge EMU connection to Chennai Beach at Chengalpattu. Once the electrification is completed, BG EMU services will be introduced between Kancheepuram and Chennai Beach, which will be a boon to commuters.

As per the current projection, electrification upto Villupuram will be completed by the end of 2002, according to sources in the Southern Railway.

Referring to the Kancheepuram-Arakkonam section, the sources said the existing line between Takkolam and Arakkonam had to be shifted before electrification as the existing track was close to the Rajali Naval Airport at Arakkonam. A new line has to be laid between Takkolam and Arakkonam away from the naval base to get the defence clearance. The Railways want the cost to be shared by the Navy, while the latter is not in favour of it.

These projects, after completion, will enable the railway administration to run long-distance trains from New Delhi, Mumbai, Secunderabad and Howrah on electric track upto Villupuram without change of traction. Besides improving the traffic, electrification will reduce running time of trains considerably, the sources added.

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Section  : Southern States
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