Tiruchy: A 2.13 km long new bypass line connecting the mainline and chord line at Ponmalai were among the several new projects inaugurated at Tiruchirappalli by Suresh Prabhu, Union minister of railways.
This vital link will save time by avoiding engine turn round at Ponmalai as well as providing freight trains a bypass at Ponmalai.
He also announced the extension of Tiruchchirappalli-Tirunelveli Intercity Express up to Thiruvananthapuram, which has been a long-pending demand of the people for a better rail connectivity between the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
During his address, Prabhu said that the PM’s vision of transforming India by short term, medium term and long-term infrastructure development is followed by Indian Railways. “Rs 2,287 crore has been allotted for railway development in the state in the current budget, against an average of about Rs 870 crore approximately during the last 10 years. TN got Rs 38 crore for passenger amenity works in the budget,” the minister said.
The minister, through video conferencing from Tiruchchirappalli, also dedicated the doubling with electrification between Villupuram junction railway station and Tiruvennainallur Road railway station.
This 16 km stretch, at a cost of Rs 105 crore, in the Villupuram - Dindigul doubling project improves the rail connectivity of the region. The minister also dedicated a new waiting hall and VIP lounge at Vriddhachalam Junction.
