Tambaram railway station should have been the city’s third passenger terminal but work is still on and the Southern Railway hopes to have the infrastructure in place by the year-end.
Estimated at Rs 34.68 crore and to benefit over one lakh commuters along the line, the project began back in 2008-09 and was sanctioned after repeated demands by residents of the southern suburbs. According to an RTI reply, Rs. 20.93 crore has been spent on the project till March 2016. Of the plan outlay of Rs. 10.64 crore for 2016-17, the railway has spent Rs. 17 lakh till May.
Southern Railway officials say the work was well on progress and the construction of pit lines was over and track linking work was underway. Installation of overhead wires and networking process are expected to be completed in two months.
Loco shed works are also being done at a fast pace, officials said adding that an 11kV substation will be in place to enhance the power supply required for the terminal building and loco sheds.
Meanwhile, Rail Passengers’ Forums have urged the Centre to allocate more funds for the project which should have been completed last month. “Ongoing works should be expedited. The progress should be notified through their website,” said V. Santhanam, founder, People Awareness Group, who filed an RTI application with Southern Railway. The Southern Railway has sought Rs.12 crore more for completion of the project, he notes.
Officials claim that last year’s November-December rains and sudden spells of showers in May and June this year has further slowed down the project. “Pits got filled with murky water. It needs time and more manpower to get them drained,” says an engineering official.
Railway officials said that work was in full swing on the third broad gauge line between Tambaram and Chengalpet.
