With Tiruchi - Thanjavur broad gauge section becoming a full-fledged double line stretch, works to electrify the section has now gathered steam.
The Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE) has decided to expedite the overhead electrification works in the nearly 50-kilometre Tiruchi - Thanjavur broad gauge section so as to complete it before the targeted time set by the Railway Board.
The Tiruchi - Thanjavur electrification work is part of the 153-kilometre Tiruchi - Karaikal project via Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam that was sanctioned by the Railway Board a couple of years ago. The CORE has already begun the preliminary works at the field level from Tiruchi to Karaikal by laying the foundations for installation of masts for overhead electric wire.
A senior CORE official told The Hindu the organisation was awaiting the completion of the track doubling project that was being executed in the Tiruchi - Thanjavur stretch to speed up the electrification works in this portion.
The Railway Board, New Delhi has set a target to the CORE to energise the section before September, said the official. Around 2,400 masts would be installed along the double line stretch from Tiruchi to Thanjavur as part of the electrification project. However, it is a single BG line in the remaining portion from Thanjavur to Karaikal via Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam.
The official said installation of masts were also currently underway from Thanjavur to Tiruvarur with foundation works having commenced in the portion from Tiruvarur to Karaikal. The entire project cost is estimated to be around ₹200 crore.
Under this project, the CORE has proposed to set up three power stations at Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Karaikal.
The official said the entire electrification project up to Karaikal was expected to get over by December. Electrification of the broad gauge route would enable operation of MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit ) trains from Tiruchi to Karaikal covering the entire delta region in future.
Besides this, express trains from Karaikal and passing via Tiruchi could be hauled by electric locomotive which has better acceleration than diesel locomotive and was pollution free. Freight trains from Karaikal port proceeding to various destinations touching Tiruchi could also be hauled by electric locomotive, the official said.
