Kumar takes it up with Railway Board Chairman

Tiruchi MP P. Kumar took up the issue of the transfer of land with the Railway Board Chairman in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Mr. Kumar met A.K. Mittal, Chairman, Railway Board, in New Delhi, and presented a memorandum pressing for the issue of in-principal approval for transfer of the piece of land for laying the service lanes immediately.

In the representation, Mr. Kumar said the construction of the road bridge was progressing well with the support of the State government.

As per the revised land requirement arrived at after a site inspection by Southern Railway and Highways officials, about 5,095 square metres of Railway land was identified for transfer.

Of this, 872.19 square metres was required immediately for laying the service road which was essential for vehicles to ply smoothly without traffic congestion. In the absence of service road, there is heavy traffic congestion.

“Even though the construction work is progressing well, the work could not be expedited because of the non-availability of in-principle approval from the railways for giving no-objection certificate for transfer of the land for constructing the service road on the Dindigul Road side of the bridge,” Mr. Kumar said.

He pointed out that the bridge was coming up in the heart of the city with the Railway Junction, Central Bus Stand, and other commercial establishments located around. It was a heavy traffic zone and in the absence of service road, vehicles have to take a detour of more than 1.5 km, he said and requested the Chairman to issue instructions for immediate in-principle approval for granting NOC.

Mr. Kumar told The Hindu over phone that Mr.Mittal, on receiving the representation, had immediately called up the Southern Railway General Manager and directed him to take steps for granting in-principle approval.