S. K. Mittal, the Commissioner of Rail Safety (CRS), Southern Circle, Bengaluru, continued his inspection of the newly laid broad gauge line in Palakkad Town – Pollachi section for the second day on Tuesday. He travelled on a motorised trolley from Muthalamada (where he finished inspection yesterday) to Pollachi and completed the same with a speed trial run.
He was accompanied by P. K. Mishra, Chief Administrative Officer, Prafulla Varma, Chief Engineer and R. Ramakrishnan, Deputy Chief Engineer, Construction wing, Chennai Egmore, along with Anand Prakash, Divisional Railway Manager, Palakkad Division.
The inspection team in motor trolleys checked the technical and safety aspects of tracks, level crossings, bridges, stations, signals and their operational efficiency and reached Pollachi Junction at 2 p.m. after inspecting the halt station at Anamalai Road.
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The team then shifted to a train comprising of a locomotive and four coaches, including the window trailing inspection car, attached at the rear.
The speed trial run from Pollachi Junction started at 15.20 hours and travelling at an average speed of 100 Kmph arrive at Palakkad Town station at 15.58 hours. The trial run covered the 55 km stretch in just 38 minutes Adequate safety precautions had already been arranged at all the level crossing gates, especially those left unmanned in this section to ensure no one crossed the tracks.
CRS while speaking to the media at Pollachi and later at Palakkad Town, said that he has made a thorough inspection of the section and that his decision will be communicated within two weeks, after studying and evaluating the data collected on safety in the section.
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The Commissioner however did say that the track as ‘not bad’.
The Chief Engineer, Construction wing, stated that the Podanur – Kinattukadavu – Pollachi gauge conversion (the other island Meter Gauge section that was taken up along with Pollachi – Palakkad) work is in progress and is expected to be completed in the next financial year.
On completion of the inspection, the Loco Pilot and Guard of the speed trial train, Trolley men and Railway staff who had put in considerable efforts towards the smooth conduct of inspection were honoured.
The local public and onlookers gathered on either side of the track , waving and cheering the inspection team.