Villupuram-Mayiladuturai track conversion to be completed by June

TIRUVARUR: Gauge conversion on the main line between Villupuram and Mayiladuturai will be completed by June, Union Minister of State for Railways R. Velu said here on Friday.

Flagging off train services in the newly converted broad gauge section between Tiruvarur and Nagore at a function held here, Mr. Velu said there was some delay in the completion of gauge conversion on the main line as there were big bridges across Kollidam and Gedilam rivers. Rain and flood also delayed the work.

The stretch between Sirkali and Chidambaram, where old and new bridges of Kollidam exist, remain to be completed, he added. “It will be completed by June and train services introduced thereafter. After that train service to Chennai from Nagore, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur will increase meeting the demands of the people. In the meantime, I will explore the possibility of attaching two coaches from Nagore to the Rockfort Express,” the Minister said. He said that the new broad gauge line between Nagapattinam and Velankanni would be completed in two months. Similarly, the new BG line between Karaikal and Nagore would also be completed in two months. The Minister laid the foundation stone for a new broad gauge line between Nagapattinam and Tiruturaipoondi via Velankanni, Palakurichi, Thirukuvalai and Ettukudi. Dairy Development Minister U. Mathivanan and A.K.S.Vijayan, Nagapattinam MP earlier made a demand for operating a train from Nagore to Chennai via Thanjavur and Tiruchi till completion of gauge conversion on the main line.