Chennai, Aug 17 (PTI) As many as 38 trains running across Tamil Nadu will have additional stoppages from August 18 based on public demand, Union Minister L Murugan said on Sunday.
Talking to reporters here,
Murugan also said the Centre has sanctioned about Rs 10 lakh crore in the last 10 years to implement social welfare schemes including modernisation and expansion of national highways, airports and ports in Tamil Nadu.
Murugan said he received petitions from the public demanding that express trains, superfast trains and passenger trains stop at additional railway stations in different parts of the state, and that he took the matter to the attention of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Vaishnaw, who accepted the demands of railway passengers, issued the necessary orders for extra stoppage, the minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, said.
The additional stoppages include Ambur for Chennai Central-Shivamogha Weekly Superfast Express. The Dhanbad-Alappuzha Express will stop at Gudiyatham and Vaniyambadi for two minutes each.
Similarly, the Coimbatore-Nagercoil Express Train will stop at Irugur and Singanallur. This train will also stop at the above mentioned stations in the opposite direction and additionally at Melappalayam. The Puducherry-Kanniyakumari Express will stop at Valliyur for the convenience of passengers.
Murugan further said the Central government has given Rs 6,626 crore for the state's railway projects in 2025-26.
During the Congress-led UPA regime between 2009-2014, this allocation was Rs 879 crore, he said.
Under the Amrit Bharat Railway Stations Scheme, work was being carried out at fast pace to upgrade 77 railway stations in Tamil Nadu at an estimated cost of Rs 2,948 crore.
Under this scheme, Rs 800 crore has been allocated for the redevelopment of Chennai Egmore Railway Station and work is being carried out. Similarly, the reconstruction work of Madurai, Rameswaram, Kanyakumari, Katpadi and Salem railway stations is underway in full swing, a press release quoted him as saying.
Murugan said work of laying new tracks for a distance of 2,587 kilometers was underway at an estimated cost of Rs 33,467 crore, and 10 new railway lines, 3 broad gauge railway lines and 9 double-track lines are being constructed.
Work on the Maduravoyal-Chennai Harbour elevated project was also progressing at 'full speed,' it quoted him as saying. PTI SA KH
