Having electrified three major sections covering Tiruchi and Karur, the Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE) has now targeted to complete the ongoing overhead electrification project in the Tiruchi-Thanjavur double line stretch by March.
A greater push has been accorded to this project to complete it by March-end or even before that to enable mandatory inspection by the Commissioner of Railway Safety to operate electric loco hauled passenger trains in this stretch.
Works were apace on both sides of the 50 km Tiruchi-Thanjavur double line track with foundation and establishment of masts required for laying overhead electric wire having been completed in some stretches.
Senior CORE officials said the focus was on energising the Tiruchi-Thanjavur broad gauge section now with the completion of Tiruchi-Karur-Erode; Karur-Dindigul and Karur-Salem broad gauge sections.
The works got slowed down as CORE officials awaited completion of track doubling works between Ponmalai and Thanjavur to enable laying of overhead electric wire covering both lines.
The officials say nearly 90% of electrical masts has been erected between Tiruchi and Alakkudi and works are under way simultaneously between Alakkudi and Thanjavur via Budalur.
The Tiruchi-Thanjavur electrification works are part of the 153-kilometre Tiruchi-Karaikal electrification project via Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam sanctioned by the Railway Board and being executed by the CORE which carries out railway electrification over the entire railway network.
The project has been speeded up and the target is to complete before the end of the current fiscal. The estimated project cost comes to about ₹100 crore since the total distance to covered under electrification in both direction, besides covering loop line and the yard at Thanjavur came to about 110 km, said the officials.
The Tiruchi-Thanjavur double line BG section would become the fourth major one to get energised by the CORE which is also simultaneously carrying out overhead electrification work from Thanjavur to Karaikal via Tiruvarur from where freight movement by rail is substantial.
