A 3-km stretch of the rail track between Arasampalayam and Chettipalayam in Kinathukkadavu on the Coimbatore-Pollachi broad gauge section is getting a concrete enclosure, railway sources said.
Sources said that the construction of concrete enclosure to prevent slippage of rocks on either side of the track when the train moves even at a normal speed has begun.
The height of the enclosure on the stretch will vary and it depends on the height of the rock/boulders on either side of the track. Frequent fall of rocks or boulders on the stretch was obstructing free flow of a lone passenger train operated between Coimbatore and Pollachi.
To prevent this recurring problem, the project has been taken up. Apart from this, when the line was thrown open for traffic after gauge conversion, it was advised to operate trains only at a maximum speed of 40 kmph.
Once the construction of concrete structure is completed, even express trains could be operated at high speed, an official said. He said that the construction of concrete enclosure will normally be over in three months.
The official said, this move was aimed to turn the section completely safe so as to reintroduce all the trains which were operated before gauge conversion work was taken up.
Railways had taken up the project to operate two more long distance express trains, probably from Madurai and two shuttle services between Coimbatore and Pollachi, the sources said.
The move heightens the hope for the revival of the trains that were operated before gauge conversion - namely Coimbatore - Rameswaram Express, Coimbatore – Madurai Inter-City Express and two passenger trains operated between Coimbatore – Madurai and another passenger train operated between Coimbatore-Pollachi, the sources add.