Cuddalore-Puducherry broad-gauge project estimate revised.

The Southern Railway has revised the estimate for laying a broad-gauge line between Cuddalore and Puducherry as part of the Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Puducherry - Cuddalore new line project.

It has also admitted that on the alignment of the line to run through the Union Territory, opinion varies between the Southern Railway and the Puducherry government.

Deputy Chief Engineer of the Southern Railway M. Jayagopi has stated this in response to the query raised by the Tamil Nadu - Puducherry Council for Railway Development about the status of the Chennai-Cuddalore rail project.

President of the Council M. Sivasankaran told The Hindu that the Southern Railway official in his letter stated that earlier it was proposed to construct the broad-gauge line between Puducherry and Cuddalore (Varakkalpattu) at a cost of Rs. 397.51 crore.

However, as per the instruction of the Railway Board the proposed limited-use-subway and the road-over-bridge had been substituted with a level crossing. Accordingly a revised estimate for Rs. 195.86 crore had been prepared and sent to the Railway Board for its consideration.


THE HINDU