After a site inspection on the progress of the 49.2-km Punalur-Shencottah gauge conversion along with Kollam MP N.K. Premachandran on Wednesday, Southern Railway authorities reiterated that the work would be completed by December and that train services would resume before March next year.
The railway team was led by Raveendra Babu, Chief Engineer (Construction) of the Southern Railway, and Madurai Railway Divisional Manager Sunil Kumar Garg. Mr. Babu said that during the past two years Rs.221 crore had been received for the work and there was no paucity of funds.
He said that the State government clearance for felling trees, blasting granite boulders and clearing encroachments along the course of the worksite should be fast-tracked. Mr. Garg said that Mr. Premachandran’s request for a special consideration for the development of the Punalur railway station will be positively considered.
The Punalur-Kazhuthurutti stretch of the section was inspected by the team.
The railway authorities said that the demands raised by people affected by the gauge conversion work will be considered in a positive manner. Mr. Babu said that all work, including bridges on the Punalur-Edaman reach of the section has been completed.
On the Edaman-Kazhuthurutti reach, work on laying the land for tracks was in the final phase. Out of 67 culverts on this section, 60 have been completed. Four out of 12 major bridges along the section have been completed while work is progressing on the remaining eight. Out of the five tunnels on this section, four have been completed. One of the tunnels is 960 meters long.
