Railways have prepared a road map to complete the doubling of the 114-km Kayamkulam-Kottayam-Ernakulam stretch, the lifeline of the railway network of the State, by March 2017.
Railways are gearing up to complete doubling of 27 km in the section by March 31. In the past five years, it could complete doubling of only 12 km annually in the State.
Southern Railway General Manager Vashishta Johri told The Hindu on Wednesday, after a meeting of MPs to review railway projects in Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad divisions, the doubling of 12 km from Kuruppanthura to Piravom and 27 km from Chingavanam to Chengannur would be completed this financial year itself.
The doubling of the remaining busy 27-km Kuruppanthura-Kottayam-Chingavanam stretch in Kottayam district would be completed by March 2017. “This will give a big relief to Railways and enhance punctuality of trains further and help maintenance of tracks,” he said.
On the 100-km stretch from Kayamkulam via Alappuzha to Ernakulam, Mr. Johri said the 18-km track from Harippad to Ambalappuzha would be completed by the next financial year.
“Our priority is to complete doubling via Kottayam and Alappuzha and fund is not a problem. We were allocated the additional Rs.50 crore sought this financial year,” he said.
The gauge conversion of the remaining 50 km of the Punalur-Shencottah stretch would be completed by December 2016. The tenders for the final tunnel and viaduct had been awarded, he said. The section was part of the 325-km Kollam-Shencottah-Tenkasi-Tirunelveli-Thiruchendur gauge conversion project.
The doubling of the Mangalaru-Panmbur section that fell under Palakkad division was also being expedited.
The 5-km section from Jakota to Panambur would be commissioned this financial year and the 16-km stretch from Panmbur to Mangalaru by March 2017. The line capacity in the stretch would come down from the present 121 per cent to almost half, he added.
To a query, Mr. Johri said the Detailed Project Report of the doubling of Thiruvananthapuram-Nagercoil section to overcome the saturated lines and terminal facilities in the division was yet to be approved by the railway board.
