Title - Budgetary allocation adequate for ongoing railway development works

The Union Railway Budget presented on February 26 brought a bundle of disappointments regarding new trains, but the “Pink Book” of the Railways, containing the budgetary allocation for various projects, has brought some relief in the form of adequate allocation for major works.The “Pink Book” has provided the much required allocation of Rs. 100 crore for the ongoing gauge conversion works. The entire section from Podanur to Madurai is about 160 km and the Pollachi — Palakkad section is about 52 km. The total cost of the project, estimated at Rs. 558 crore, has now reached Rs. 900 crore because of the cost escalation.The metre gauge section between Coimbatore and Dindigul via Podanur — Pollachi — Udumalpet and the Pollachi — Palakkad sections laid as early as in 1920 were taken up for gauge conversion three years ago.First, the train services from Coimbatore end were terminated at Podanur in May 2006 and the section was fully closed in May 2009. Gauge conversion works in respect of the Dindigul — Palani — Udumalpet sections have been completed. The work in respect of Udumalpet — Pollachi is almost nearing completion and the officials are confident of opening the section for passenger traffic by May or June this year.However, works in respect of the Pollachi — Palakkad section (52 km) and Pollachi — Podanur (45 km) sections are progressing at a snail’s pace.

The delay in respect of Pollachi — Palakkad section was due to more number of bridges and contractual failures, but the Podanur — Pollachi section was hanging because of the issues relating to land acquisition, official sources said.

With the State Government and district administration taking steps to expedite the land acquisition, there are some signs of the process of acquisition being completed in March/April and the works commencing at a faster pace thereafter to complete the section by March 2014.

Only then western Tamil Nadu will regain its lost rail connectivity with southern Tamil Nadu.

The latest Union Railway Budget “Pink Book” has an allocation of Rs. 100 crore for the Podanur — Pollachi, Palakkad — Pollachi and Pollachi — Udumalpet sections. According to officials from the construction wing, this allocation would be more or less sufficient to complete the project and if at all there was a need for more funds, it would only be a meagre sum.

Similarly, the “Pink Book” has sanction for logistics and infrastructure to man as many as 17 unmanned level crossings and there is also a sanction for Rs. 1 crore for the feasibility study of the Erode — Palani (91.05 km) new railway line.

Officials said when a project is taken up, the initial sanction would only be a token sanction and the quantum would increase, once the project starts progressing. In addition, there is an allocation of Rs 1.88 crore, the required estimate, for completion of the second subway for the Coimbatore Junction.

The project is aimed at having a senior citizen/differently abled -friendly subway with escalators and lifts and will substantially decongest the existing subway.

Railway sources said that with this quantum of sanctioned funds, none of the above mentioned railway projects would be delayed owing to fund constraints.