With the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) having accorded mandatory safety clearance, the double line laid between Kallakudi Palanganatham and Ariyalur is expected to be thrown open to rail traffic in August first week.
The new double track in the 25-km stretch from Kallakudi Palanganatham to Ariyalur would be commissioned after carrying out mega block works on that stretch.
Preliminary works connected with the commissioning of the double line have already commenced.
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Prior to commissioning, the existing single line would be connected with the double line through points and crossings. Some new points would be inserted and a few others removed.
Cross over connections would be made between the single line and the double line on the stretch that has four stations – Kallakudi Palanganatham, Kallagam, Sillakudi, and Ariyalur.
Signals would be provided in the double line to pave the way for passing of trains on the new track.
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Railway officials told The Hindu that the mega block work for commissioning the double track would be taken up soon. The mega block works would be taken up in the morning and completed the same evening.
The double line was part of the 270-km Villupuram–Dindigul doubling project being executed by the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, a Government of India enterprise.
The 50-km portion from Valadi to Ariyalur was chosen for doubling as it was crucial segment in the Villupuram-Tiruchi chord line route.
Doubling works were taken up simultaneously in two portions — Valadi to Kallakudi Palanganatham (25 km) and Kallakudi Palanganatham to Ariyalur (25 km).
The double track laid from Valadi to Kallakudi Palanganatham was thrown open to rail traffic last year after the Commissioner of Railway Safety accorded safety clearance.
Once the double line laid in the remaining portion from Kallakudi Palanganatham to Ariyalur was commissioned, it would substantially reduce congestion on the chord line route especially at night when rail traffic was high as trains would not have to halt for crossings, say officials.
New station buildings have been constructed at Kallagam and Sillakudi and some additions made to the Ariyalur station as part of the doubling works.
The platform of Kallakudi Palanganatham station had been extended to accommodate 24 coaches.
High-level platforms have been built at Kallagam and Sillakudi railway stations. The Kallakudi Palanganatham – Ariyalur segment has seven major bridges and 31 minor bridges midway.