Union minister inaugurates railway passenger amenities across Tamil Nadu

Suresh Prabhu dedicated an emergency medical centre in Kumbakonam in the presence of Vashishta Johri, General Manager, Southern Railways, A K Agarwal, DRM (Trichy Division), and Annadurai, district Collector.

Waiting halls for first class and general class passengers in Thanjavur, which were constructed at the cost of Rs12.25 lakh, and two lifts at Madurai Junction constructed at the cost of the Rs 52 lakh were also launched as part of the inauguration. State Minister for Cooperation Sellur K Raju and Madurai Collector K Veera Raghav Rao were present on the occasion. 

Suresh Prabhu, while speaking at the launch, said that he will be working closely with the people of Tamil Nadu and bring necessary projects to the state. “The previous Union governments failed to modernise the railways and are responsible for its present state. But the present government is renovating railways for the betterment of the nation. Last year, Tamil Nadu was allotted Rs 875 crore for the rail projects and this year it has been increased to Rs 2,300 crore, added Suresh Prabhu.

Madurai Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Sunil Kumar Garg, addressing the media, said that the much-expected project of doubling of Railway line between Villupuram and Dindigul will be completed by the end of this year. The railway line between Tiruchy and Dindigul comes under Madurai division and work at the three sections are completed. 

In the remaining one section, works are pending owing to land acquisition. Also, the Intercity Express running between Tiruchy and Tirunelveli will be extended till Tiruvananthapuram with an added stoppage at Manaparai, he said and added that four trains — Rameswaram-Chennai Egmore Sethu Express, Ananthapuri Express and two of its pairing trains — have been recommended for the best services award in Madurai Division. A modernised advanced train ticket booking centre at the cost of Rs1.5 lakh and three lifts at the cost of Rs16 lakh are under construction at Dindigul Railway station, DRM said.