The Hindu : Front Page : Track inspection delay worries people

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Thursday, Jun 19, 2008
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Track inspection delay worries people

Syed Muthahar Saqaf

TIRUCHI: With the trial run on the newly laid broad gauge line between Tiruvarur and Nagore completed about three months ago by Railway officials, public and representatives of various organisations now want the mandatory inspection by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) to be done as early as possible so that the section could be opened to traffic again.

The delay is causing concern to the people in Delta districts since there is a huge movement of travellers to pilgrim towns such as Velankanni, Nagore and Tirunallar from across the country.

The section has been closed for railway traffic for the last two years following the commencement of the BG work. The BG works were completed a few months ago and a trial run of the material train was conducted on March 29. . Minister of State for Railways R. Velu had assured last year that the project would be completed by December 2007.

The people expected the Railways to resume train services at least before the annual Sandanakoodu festival at Nagore Dargah on June 15 for the benefit of a large number of devotees visiting the shrine. “We are disappointed that the railways have turned a deaf ear to all our cries to open this vital section before the Nagore festival”, lament Ahmed Ehsanullah of Nagore and P. Doraisingam of Koradachery. Railway sources said a team of its top officials inspected the new track on motor trolleys last Saturday. This has revived hopes of an early CRS inspection.

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