Title - The Hindu : NATIONAL / TAMIL NADU : Unmanned level crossings to be phased out: DRM

In accordance with the Madurai Railway Division’s stress on safety, 365 unmanned level crossings in the division would be eliminated in a phased manner, said A. K. Rastogi, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Southern Railway, Madurai Division.

Delivering the Republic Day address after unfurling the tri-colour, he highlighted the activities of the Madurai division. He said that during the nine months of the current financial year, the Division has earned Rs. 234.07 crore in passenger traffic and Rs. 106.81 crore in goods traffic. The total earnings including all (up to December 2012) are Rs. 368.02 crore as against the earnings of Rs. 283.67 crore in the previous year. This, he said was achieved despite the closure of several sections like Palani- Pollachi, Punalur- Sengottai, Virudunagar- Manamadurai, Madurai-Bodi for gauge conversion.

As part of increasing safety measures, round-the-clock patrolling is in force in the section identified as prone to rail fracture. Integrated security system was introduced recently which comprises multi screening facility of passengers and their baggage, he said.

Mr. Rastogi said that, under the “1000 PRS Scheme” of Southern Railways, India Post PRS centre was commissioned at Kodaikanal recently. The long pending requirement of remodelling of Madurai yard was recently completed and this would provide additional traffic facilities in Madurai station.

The gauge conversion work on the Virudhunagar –Manamadurai line is in progress and it will be opened for traffic shortly. Likewise work is under progress in the Palani – Pollachi, Sengottai-Punalur sections.

Electrification work is in progress in Dindigul – Madurai- Tirunelveli- Tuticorin section and the Dindigul- Virudunagar section is to be commissioned by March 2013. As a part of the Republic Day celebrations of Southern Railway Women’s Welfare Organisation, Madurai, President Shafali Rastogi, and Shirly Ajith Kumar, Vice-President, visited the Railway Hospital, Madurai and donated water filters and hot packs to the hospital.

V. Ajith Kumar, Additional Divisional Railway Manager, S. Balasubramanian, Divisional Security Commissioner, G. Sahoo, Chief Medical Superintendent, trade union representatives, Railway officers and staff participated.