Rs. 86-crore Nagore-Karaikal broad gauge

Rs. 86-crore Nagore-Karaikal broad gauge line works under way
P.V.Srividya

—Photo: M. Srinath GETTING READY: Construction of railway track in progress for the line between Nagore and Karaikal.
NAGAPATTINAM: Works are under way on the Nagore-Karaikal broad gauge line, a 11-km-stretch. The new line, being laid on an outlay of Rs. 86 crore, will have seven major bridges, 40 minor bridges and 12 level-crossing gates of which six will be manned.
The BG line will have a halt station at Thirumalairajanpattinam between Nagore and Karaikal. Sources said that as most of the work would be completed before water from the Mettur Dam is released when most of the construction area would be submerged. Similarly, when the fields get water-logged, it becomes difficult for bank formation. Hence plans are on to take up parallel works on bank formation in summer now.
According to sources, once sub structures are in place, work is expected to speed up. The difficult nature of the work involved considering the marshy land that comes under the Nagore-Karaikal BG line entails its high cost for the 11-km stretch.
Works were delayed due to the rains last year and waterlogging posed additional problems.
Work is still to commence on the Karaikal station and the halt station at Thirumalairajanpattinam.

As of now, sub-structural works are under progress at the site and launching girders are being erected.
The work on the line began in early 2008. The BG line is slated for completion by March 2010, sources said.

Work on Karaikal Port is under way at a faster pace. It makes sense for the port to commence its operations only on completion of the Nagore-Karaikal BG line. The Karaikal Port will have to depend on this line to handle its container and cargo traffic once it commences its operations. This places additional leverage on the project along with demands for its speedy completion.