With Tiruchi - Erode via Karur and Karur - Dindigul broad gauge sections already having been electrified, the Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE) has now embarked on the task of electrifying the Karur - Salem broad gauge section.
Works relating to laying foundation and establishing electrical masts for the project have already begun in the nearly 85 km stretch. Around 2,000 masts and 80 portals have been proposed on this stretch.
A power substation would come up at Namakkal as part of the project which is being executed at a cost of around ₹ 90 crore , a senior CORE official told The Hindu .
Since the terrain in the stretch was rocky, new methods were being adopted and work was targeted to be completed by November.
Construction works of the substation at Namakkal was also apace to feed power for operation of electric locomotive hauled goods and passenger trains. Karur - Salem is the third important stretch taken up for electrification after Tiruchi - Erode via Karur and Karur - Dindigul sections.
Electrification of Karur - Salem BG line would also enable electric loco hauled goods train from Karaikal to Salem via Tiruchi. This would also pave the way for operation of Mainline Electric Multiple Unit passenger train from Tiruchi to Salem in future, said the official.
The CORE has electrified the Tiruchi - Erode via Karur section (140 km) early this year with some passenger and goods trains being operated hauled by electric locomotives in this stretch. Similarly, electrification of the Karur - Dindigul section was completed in March. Electrification of the section would avoid loco changeover for trains proceeding to Tiruchi and Madurai via Karur, the official said.
