The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), Southern Circle, S.K. Mittal, inspected the electrification of the line from Coimbatore North Station to Mettupalayam Station on Thursday. Railway officials said that he would soon submit a report to the Southern Railways headquarters – following which it will be fully operational.
Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Salem Division, Shubhranshu, who accompanied the Commissioner, told The Hindu after the inspection that the electrification of the 33-km long stretch began about a year ago. “It was completed at an estimate of Rs. 26 crore a month ago and several tests were done since then,” he said.
The Salem Division will soon send proposals to Southern Railways to introduce Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) and a few more Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) rakes.
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Mr. Shubhranshu said that due to good demand on the Coimbatore to Mettupalayam section they would send a proposal for MEMU rakes on this section. When approved, the Coimbatore-Mettupalayam section would have 13 coaches in place of the existing nine coaches.
He also said that works for extension of the platform at Mettupalayam Station from the existing length of 13 coaches to accommodate 24 coaches would begin in another three months.
“The work is expected to be completed in a year at an estimate of Rs. 2.5 crore.”
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On completion, Mettupalayam Station would be able to get express trains, he said.