A proposal to sanction a railway line between Avadi and Sriperumbudur will be recommended for inclusion in the forthcoming railway budget, Sriperumbudur Member of Parliament T.R. Baalu said on Tuesday.
Announcing this at a meeting held in Ambattur on railway developmental projects, he said the 55-km rail link, estimated to cost nearly Rs.447 crore, would also link Oragadam and Guduvanchery. A separate rail link between Irungattukottai and Sriperumbudur is also required.
This would benefit the fast developing industrial hubs and also might decongest traffic at Chennai Central railway station as some south-bound trains could be diverted from Avadi to Sriperumbudur.
The project to make Tambaram the third terminal station has been sanctioned by the Central government. Work on the Rs.40 crore project would start soon, Mr.Baalu added.
On the long pending demands of residents of Ambattur, he said tenders have been finalised for a subway to replace level crossing no. 4 at the Korattur railway station. The facility would come up at a cost of Rs.11.25 crore. Similarly, a road overbridge would soon be provided near LC no. 5 at Pattaravakkam.
To the residents' query about the possibility of constructing a road over bridge near LC no. 6 at the Ambattur railway station, Mr.Baalu said it would be considered. As an immediate measure, the railway authorities agreed to provide an underpass for pedestrians.
Many residents wanted the road overbridge near Ambattur uzhavar sandhai to be widened. K.Varadhan, a resident, demanded that a computerised railway reservation centre must be set up in area. Ambattur Municipality chairman K.N. Sekar said the local body would provide space for the reservation centre.
Villivakkam Member of Legislative Assembly B. Ranganathan said measures must be taken to halt a few express trains at Ambattur. The Metro Rail project must be extended to Ambattur industrial estate.
Talking to mediapersons later, Mr. Baalu said a meeting with officials of Southern Railway, National Highways Authority of India and State Highways would be convened shortly to discuss the widening of the ROB on Chennai-Tiruvallur High Road near Ambattur Uzhavar Sandhai.
Tambaram MLA S.R. Raja, Chief Administrative Officer, Southern Railway, R.Ramanathan and Chief Engineer (Construction) Southern Railway, P.K.Mishra were present.
