At long last, the broad gauge conversion work in the stretch from Tiruvarur to Pattukottai via Tiruthuraipoondi has reached the completion stage.
The Southern Railway Construction Organisation which has been entrusted with the task of executing the gauge conversion project has laid a new broad gauge track replacing the metre gauge line in the nearly 75-km stretch besides simultaneously carrying out other related works as part of the mega project.
A trial run using a single diesel locomotive was carried out a few days ago in the portion from Tiruvarur to Tiruthuraipundi (25 kilometres) following completion of track laying and other associated works. The trial run of the loco went on for nearly one-and-half hours from Tiruvarur to Tiruthuraipoondi, which falls under the fertile delta region.
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The Tiruvarur - Tiruthuraipoondi - Pattukottai gauge conversion work is part of the nearly 185-kilometre long Mayiladuthurai - Tiruvarur - Tiruthuraipundi - Pattukottai - Karaikudi gauge conversion project taken up by the Southern Railway Construction Organisation over six years ago. The mega work was taken up simultaneously along different stretches.
As part of the project, the gauge conversion works in the Mayiladuthurai - Tiruvarur section was completed in 2012 and train services resumed.
The longest stretch from Pattukottai to Karaikudi (73 km) was completed in March this year and train services resumed after a gap of nearly six years.
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The remaining portion where works are currently on is the stretch from Tiruvarur to Pattukottai via Tiruthuraipoondi.
Senior railway officials of the Southern Railway Construction Organisation said the entire gauge conversion and associated works in the Tiruvarur - Pattukottai section via Tiruthuraipoondi would be completed in December. The entire project cost for this mega project was about ₹ 500 crore.
The Tiruvarur - Pattukottai via Tiruthuraipoondi section has 14 major bridges and 202 minor bridges with Muthupettai, Adhiramapattinam and Thillaivalagam stations enroute. Railway officials have planned to carry out a trial run of a train with few passenger coaches prior to inviting the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) for mandatory inspection in December.
The safety clearance from the CRS is mandatory prior to reopening this section for operation of freight and passenger train services on the newly laid broad gauge track. The completion of the gauge conversion work will pave the way for resumption of rail services in the Tiruvarur - Pattukottai via Tiruthuraipoondi after a gap of over six years.
Another official said gauge conversion works were currently underway from Tiruthuraipoondi to Agasthiampalli (37 km). Nearly one - third of the earth work had been completed in this stretch and the entire project was planned for completion in December 2019.