Manamadurai–Virudhunagar line

Manamadurai–Virudhunagar line
Overview
Type Regional rail
Heavy rail
Status Operating
Locale Tamil Nadu
Termini Manamadurai Junction (MNM)
Virudhunagar Junction (VPT)
Stations 5
Services 1
Website www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in
Operation
Opened 2 May 1964 (1964-05-02)
Owner Indian Railways
Operator(s) Southern Railway zone
Depot(s) Golden Rock
Technical
Line length 67 km (42 mi)
Track gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Old gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in)
Loading gauge 4,725 mm × 3,660 mm (15 ft 6.0 in × 12 ft 0.1 in) (BG)[1]
Operating speed 80 km/h (50 mph)
Route number 66[2]
Route map

The Manamadurai–Virudhunagar line is a railway line connecting Virudhunagar and Manamadurai towns in Tamil Nadu.

History

A new railway line from Manamadurai Junction–Virudhunagar Junction was proposed in the Third Five Year plan, which was supposed to ease the pressure on the existing Manamadurai Junction–Madurai Junction and Madurai Junction–Virudhunagar Junction sections.[3] On 1 September 1963, the 22.66 kilometres (14.08 mi) Virudhunagar Junction–Aruppukkottai section was opened,[4] along with Aruppukkottai railway station in the same year by the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, K. Kamaraj.[5] And on 2 May 1964, the rest of 43.89 kilometres (27.27 mi) Aruppukkottai–Manamadurai Junction section was thrown to traffic.[6] Opened with meter gauge tracks, the 67 kilometres (42 mi) section had three crossing railway stations viz., Aruppukkottai, Tiruchchuli and Narikkudi catering immensely the passengers of the region and Tuticorin for traffic of goods.[7]

Gauge conversions

Under Project Unigauge, the conversion from metre gauge to broad gauge was effected and the section was closed for operation during 2008. Initiated at a projected cost of ₹90 crore (US$13 million) and scheduled for completion by 2010, operational delays overran the project, shooting the budget up to ₹180 crore (US$27 million).[7] The section which had 22 unmanned level crossings[8] underwent safety inspection on 21 June 2013 for operational fitness.[9] Finally, at a cost of ₹231.58 crore (US$34 million) the section consisting of five major bridges, 145 minor bridges and five railway stations (including 3 crossing stations) under Virudhunagar and Sivaganga districts was re-opened for traffic on 14 July 2013 by the Union Minister of state for Civil Aviation, K. C. Venugopal.[10][11]

References

  1. ↑ J S Mundrey (2010). Railway Track Engineering (Fourth ed.). New Delhi: Tata McGraw Hill. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-07-068012-8. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  2. ↑ "Passenger Train Time Table" (PDF). Indian Railways. Southern Railway zone. p. 56 (203). Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  3. ↑ "Chapter 28: Transport and Communications". Government of India. Planning Commission (India). Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  4. ↑ "Railway Budget 1964–65" (PDF). Indian Railways. Railway Board. p. 4 (208). Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  5. ↑ "Ministers flayed for inaction on railway station issue". The Hindu. 15 December 2007. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  6. ↑ R. P. Saxena. "Indian Railway History Time line". Irse.bravehost.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  7. 1 2 "Trains to chug out soon on Virudhunagar - Manamadurai broad gauge section". The Times of India. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  8. ↑ "Commissioner of railway safety inspection on Virudhunagar - Manamadurai BG section soon". The Times of India. 14 June 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  9. ↑ "Virudhunagar-Manamadurai section gears up for speed trials". The Times of India. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  10. ↑ "Virudhunagar-Manamadurai BG section thrown open for traffic". The Times of India. 15 July 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  11. ↑ "After five years, regular train services back on Virudhunagar - Manamadurai section". The Times of India. 8 September 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
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