The Hindu : Front Page : Southern Railway records growth

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 17, 2007
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Southern Railway records growth

S. Vijay Kumar

In Madurai division

755 special trains, including 19 on MG operated
It earns Rs.111.65 crore during April-October 2007

MADURAI: The Madurai Division of the Southern Railway has recorded a growth of 16.17 per cent in passenger earnings.

Despite the closure of 296 km of meter gauge (MG) section for gauge conversion and fall in number of passengers on the commuter sector, the division managed to post an increase on the revenue front.

According to the Divisional Railway Manager, Hemant Kumar, the division earned Rs.111.65 crore during April-October 2007 compared to Rs.96.11 crore last year.

The closure of the Madurai-Dindigul and Manamadurai-Karaikudi MG sections led to a fall in the number of passengers by 12.5 per cent.

However, the increase in passengers travelling on long distance routes kept the income steady.

To clear extra rush

In order to clear the extra rush of passengers during Vijayadasami, Deepavali and other festival occasions, the division operated 755 special trains, including 19 on MG.

New bridge

The 61-km Manamadurai-Karaikudi and Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur sections that were closed for BG conversion would be opened to traffic during the current fiscal. The new bridge across Vaigai River in Madurai, which is part of the Madurai-Dindigul doubling project, would be completed along with Dindigul-Kodaikanal Road doubling works by March.

New passenger amenities

Mr. Hemant Kumar said passenger amenities were being created at all major stations in the division that covered 11 southern districts of Tamil Nadu and one in Kerala.

A sum of Rs.40 crore was sanctioned to establish modern amenities out of which Rs.8 crore was allocated for developing Madurai railway station alone.

Approach roads and platforms

Approach roads and platforms at Koodal Nagar railway station were being developed. There was a move to provide stoppage in Koodal Nagar for trains terminating at Madurai.

Following demands from senior citizens, a proposal was sent to the headquarters for establishing an escalator at the Madurai station, he added.

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