RVNL has constructed 16 major bridges on the stretch

The statutory clearance from the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Southern Circle, Bengaluru, has paved the way for operation of rail services in the second railway line laid up to Thanjavur from Golden Rock in Tiruchi.

The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) who carried out mandatory inspection last month in the 28-kilometre stretch from Solagampatti to Thanjavur Junction accorded clearance for operation of rail traffic.

The Solagampatti- Thanjavur stretch forms part of the track doubling project executed in the 48-kilometre section from Golden Rock to Thanjavur.

The doubling project in the entire section was executed by the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), a Government of India enterprise under the Ministry of Railways.

The CRS had already authorised the first portion from Golden Rock to Solagampatti (19 km) for operation of rail traffic after carrying out mandatory inspection last year.

Works were then underway in the second portion of the doubling project from Solagampatti to Thanjavur. Upon completion of all works, the CRS carried out a two-day mandatory inspection from Solagampatti to Thanjavur last month.

The inspection concluded with a high speed trial run by the CRS on a board a special train.

Railway sources told The Hindu that the statutory clearance from the CRS for operation of rail traffic in the remaining portion from Solagampatti to Thanjavur came a few days ago.

The statutory clearance has now paved the way for operation of rail traffic up to Thanjavur from Tiruchi on the newly laid second railway line, said the sources. Till now, trains were operated on the second railway line only up to Solagampatti from Tiruchi since that portion alone was cleared.

The RVNL has planned to complete the remaining minor works in the portion from Solagampatti to Thanjavur before this month-end after which services up to Thanjavur from Tiruchi on the second railway line are expected to be operated.

Delay due to crossings in the Tiruchi- Thanjavur broad gauge section would not arise henceforth with the second railway line set to become operational soon, the sources said.

The second railway line would enable the railway authorities to operate more trains from Tiruchi to Thanjavur.

The RVNL which was entrusted with the task of executing the doubling project had constructed new station buildings at Tiruverumbur, Thondamanpatti, Solagampatti and Budalur.

All the 15 level crossing gates from Golden Rock to Thanjavur have been manned with the RVNL constructing 16 major bridges in that stretch as part of the doubling project completed at a cost of around ₹300 crore.

The second railway line was laid as the existing single line on this strect had reached saturation.

The section is also being electrified simultaneously as part of the Tiruchi - Thanjavur-Tiruvarur- Karaikal electrification project.

The project is being executed by the Central Organisation of Railway Electrification.