Title - Committee to study Karaikal-Peralam line project proposal

A stakeholders’ committee will look into the project details provided by the Southern Railway for the Karaikal-Peralam broad gauge line announced in the Railway Budget 2013-14.A consultative meeting with the district administration had been organised here to discuss coordination of technical parameters and feasibilities.The meeting discussed proposed bridges, subways, elimination of level-crossing, and bridges across the rivers and clearance of encroachments.The 23-km Karaikal-Peralam line envisages four stations at Ambaragatur, Pattukudi, Thirunallar, and Koarakovipattu. The project envisages a limited land acquisition for some detour lines at Perallam and Thirunallar.The old Peralam station for the metre gauge line will require 1.5-km extension for the conversion. Similarly, a two-km detour is planned to Thirunallar yard. These are seen as primary problems, which would require the intervention of the district administration.

Kalimuthu, chief engineer, constructions, Indian Railways, told The Hindu that some locations might only require bridges and it was up to the State government to provide land for the same. The technical feasibilities would be discussed with the administration. The final project report would be prepared later and forwarded to the Railway Board.

Collector J. Ashok Kumar presided over the meeting. Challapathy, deputy chief engineer, and Gopal Dalmia of Puduchery Railway Project Coordination Committee were present.