PUDUCHERRY: The demand for railway connectivity between Chennai and Cuddalore via Mamallapuram and Puducherry along the east coast has gained momentum with a newly-formed railway development council urging the Union railway ministry, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry governments to coordinate for a speedy implementation of the project.
The Tamil Nadu-Puducherry Citizens' Council for Railway Development, which convened in Cuddalore on Sunday, appealed to chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to finalize the corridor and exert pressure on the Union railway ministry for the execution of the project. The council pointed out that the project would boost economic growth of the state and the Union territory.
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project was conceived as early as 2008 and the Union railway ministry approved and accorded sanction for the new line the same year. Estimated at a cost of Rs 800 crore then, there was also a proposal to extend the line up to Karaikal via Mayiladuthurai. However, the project did not kick start as the ministry has been focusing on projects on its priority list for the past few years.
The council urged the ministry to execute the project on the lines of Regional Rapid Transport System (RRTS) as planned for Delhi-Alwar, Delhi-Panipet and Delhi-Meerut routes to ensure high speed electric multiple unit (EMU) trains between Chennai and Cuddalore.
Pointing out that the project lies partly in the Greater Chennai Metropolitan area, the council suggested laying of the new line adhering to the new standards of Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS). The Chennai MRTS has already laid an elevated double line connecting the Beach Station with Vellacherry via Perungudi. The new line for the east coast rail project can commence from Perungudi instead of Thiruvanmiyur as proposed earlier.
The 44-km stretch from Perungudi to Mahabalipuram has to be laid according to the new MRTS standards (80km/h) while the 80km-line from Mamallapuram to Koonimedu, north of Puducherry, has to be laid according to RRTS standards (160km/h) and the 54km line from Koonimedu to Cuddalore Port junction via Puducherry and Thirupapuliyur has to be laid according to the MRTS standards.
"The project will greatly boost the economic growth of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and will benefit particularly people in Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Puducherry and Cuddalore regions. The Union railway ministry can form a special purpose vehicle involving stakeholders and insisting them to extend financial contribution for the project," said council secretary M Nizamudeen.
The council also urged the ministry to seek technical cooperation from SNCF (Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais or French National Railway Company), France, which signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Railways to upgrade railway line tracks to 160-200km/h standards.
The council insisted the newly elected MPs from Chidambaram, Cuddalore, Viluppuram, Kancheepuram and Puducherry parliamentary constituencies to the 16th Lok Sabha to jointly press for the speedy implementation of the new line project with the Union railway minister.