With track doubling on the Villupuram - Dindigul broad gauge section apace, the works in the stretch up to Tiruchi would be completed by March next year.
Disclosing this to media here on Thursday, Divisional Railway Manager, Tiruchi A.K. Agarwal said doubling works had been completed in different portions in the stretch from Villupuram to Tiruchi.
Works in the remaining 70 kilometres portion between Villupuram and Tiruchi would be completed by March next year.
The portion in which works were currently underway include the one between Valadi and Tiruchi.
The doubling project is being executed by the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, a Government of India enterprise. The project once completed would enable the Railways to operate more trains.
Mr. Agarwal said doubling works in the Thanjavur - Ponmalai broad gauge section was expected to be completed by July next year. The Tiruchi Railway Division, he said, had registered an increase in freight loading this fiscal as compared to last year.
On the safety front a total number of 25 unmanned level crossings in the division had been eliminated either by manning them or through construction of limited use subways.
Surveillance in major railway stations in the division would be enhanced through installation of cameras using the 'Nirbhaya' fund.
The stations where surveillance cameras are proposed to be installed include Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Villupuram and Mayiladuthurai.
Mr. Agarwal said Kumbakonam station in Tiruchi Division was adjudged the fifth cleanest stations among the 407 stations across the country in a cleanliness survey of major railway stations in the country conducted by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation.
The Tiruchi Railway Junction secured the 15th rank among the category 'A' stations in the survey.
A nine-day 'Swachchta campaign' was being organised from September 17 to 25 all over Indian Railways with special drives on cleanliness at railway stations and trains besides cleaning of drains, garbage disposal and conducting campaigns on cleanliness.
Tiruchi station’s feat
The Tiruchi Railway Division had also launched a massive cleanliness drive by nominating officers to visit stations and carry out the drives, he said.