Southern Railway Aims Big Growth

                                                                                                                                             Vishnu sharma, INN/Chennai, @Svs037

Improving efficiency is the aim.

Southern Railway is aiming to improve service by giving an all time big focus on providing infrastructure. Union Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal will lay foundation for laying 36 kilometre new railway line between Dharmapuri – Morappur on 4 March.   Union Minister will lay the foundation stone through video confrencing from Dharmapuri. Piyush Goyal will also announce extension of Tambaram-Tirunelveli Antyodaya to Nagercoil and flag off Chennai-Kollam daily express on 4 March from Dharmapuri. Sources from Railway Ministry say that 36 kilometre railway line has been sanctioned by Railway Board at a cost of Rs 358.95.

This will traverse through the district of Dharmapuri in Tamilnadu. Passing through rural areas, the proposed rail route will connect Dharmapuri (South Western Railway) and Morappur (Southern Railway).

The Rail route will bring development and trade facilities to these districts and bring viable and easily affordable transport facilities to the people of this region who will get connected to important towns like Dharmapuri and Morappur.

The new line will have two major bridges, 24 minor bridges, five Road over Bridges and 15 Road under Bridges. The section comprises of two crossing stations namely Ranimukkanur and Mukkanur excluding the end stations namely Dharmapuri and Morappur. All the stations will have high level passenger platforms and all other related amenities.

Announcement of extension of Train No.16191/16192 Antyodaya Express between Tambaram – Tirunelveli – Tambaram – to Nagercoil Junction will also be a blessing in disguise. The train that used to run in most busy route of Tambaram to Tirunelveli is now being extended till Nagercoil which is also another busy route with high travelling population.

This is a long-distance, fully unreserved, superfast train service for the common man operated on dense routes. Antyodaya Express, envisaged in Railway Budget was started with the flagging off of the inaugural special on 8 June last year as a boon to the rail users.

It is a boon for passengers who travel between Chennai and the southern districts of Tamilnadu at short notice or during festivals or peak seasons.

It covers important places like Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur, Tiruchchirappalli, Dindigul and Madurai enroute. The Antyodaya Express is being extended from Tirunelveli to Nagercoil Junction meeting popular demand will help people of Kanniyakumari district to reach various parts of Tamilnadu.

Union Railway Minister will flag off Chennai – Kollam Express also on 4 March. The new train from Chennai Egmore – Kollam via Sengottai will be a gift to the people of Tamilnadu and Kerala in the newly gauge converted route of Sengottai – Punalur – Kollam section. This will help the pilgrims from South Tamilnadu reach Sabarimala through a shorter route.

With a composition of two AC three tier Coaches, eight sleeper class coaches, two general second class coaches, and two luggage cum brake vans, Train No.16101/16102 Chennai Egmore-Kollam-Chennai Egmore Daily Express will leave Chennai Egmore at 5.00 pmWith a composition of two AC three tier Coaches, 8 Sleeper Class Coaches, 2 General Second Class Coaches, and Two Luggage cum brake vans, Train No.16101/16102 Chennai Egmore-Kollam-Chennai Egmore Daily Express will leave

Chennai Egmore at 5.00 pm to reach Kollam at 8.45 am the next day. In the return direction, it will depart from Kollam at 11.45 am and reach Chennai Egmore at 3.30 am the next day. It will have stoppages at Tambaram, Chengalpattu, Villupuram Jn, Vriddhachalam Jn, Tiruchchirappalli Jn, Dindigul Jn, Madurai Jn, Virudhunagar Jn, Sivakasi, Srivilliputtur, Rajapalayam, Sankarankovil, Kadayanallur, Tenkasi Jn, Sengottai, Aryankavu, Tenmalai, Edaman, Punalur, Kottarakara and Kundara in either direction. Reservations for these trains are open.