The 103-km stretch of newly laid broad gauge track between Chengalpattu and Villupuram junctions is all set to open for traffic soon with the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Satish Kumar Mittal conducting a high-speed trial run on the 21-kilometre BG stretch between Chengalpattu and Karunkuzhi on Thursday.
The second BG track was laid at a cost of Rs.900 crore with passenger amenities such as foot-overbridges at 11 smaller stations between the two junctions, 10 road overbridges, one road under bridge and 4 limited use subways along the stretch.
Once the new track becomes operational, bunching and releasing of the main line and chord line trains at Villupuram and holding back of trains at smaller stations between Chengalpattu and Villupuram for crossings would come to an end.
The project, commenced in 2006, came to a conclusion with the testing of the final leg of the 21-kilometre track, sources said.
Later talking to reporters, Mr.Mittal said the trial run results were satisfactory as vibration and other data recorded during the 100 kilometres per hour speed trial run on the 21-kilometre track were normal.
Responding to a query with regard to opening up of Thirumalpur-Arakonam section for traffic, the CRS said electrification and signalling work on the 7.50-kilometre track could be completed as soon as Rs.30 crore was released by the Defence Ministry. Thereafter, the new track would be tested and thrown open for traffic.
