Manamadurai–Virudhunagar line

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Manamadurai–Virudhunagar line
Manamadurai Junction railway station
Overview
StatusOperating
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleTamil Nadu
Termini
Stations5
Websitewww.sr.indianrailways.gov.in
Service
TypeExpress train
Passenger train
Services3
Operator(s)Southern Railway zone
Depot(s)Golden Rock
History
Opened2 May 1964; 59 years ago (1964-05-02)
Reopened21 June 2013
Technical
Line length67 km (42 mi)
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Old gaugeMeter Gauge
Loading gauge4,725 mm × 3,660 mm (15 ft 6.0 in × 12 ft 0.1 in) (BG)[1]
Operating speed80 km/h (50 mph)
SignallingRailway Signalling
Route map

km
0
Manamadurai Junction Parking
22
Narikkudi
35
Tiruchchuli
Right arrow to Tuticorin (
under
construction
)
45
Aruppukkottai Parking
Left arrow to Madurai Junction (
under
construction
)
67
Virudhunagar Junction Parking

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

History[edit]

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

Development[edit]

The conversion from metre gauge to broad gauge was effected and the section was closed for operation during 2008.[6] The section which had 22 unmanned level crossings[7] underwent safety inspection on 21 June 2013 for operational fitness.[8] Finally, at a cost of 231.58 crore (US$29 million) the broad gauge 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.[9][10]

References[edit]

  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. ^ "Chapter 28: Transport and Communications". Government of India. Planning Commission (India). Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  3. ^ "Railway Budget 1964–65" (PDF). Indian Railways. Railway Board. p. 4 (208). Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  4. ^ "Ministers flayed for inaction on railway station issue". The Hindu. 15 December 2007. Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  5. ^ R. P. Saxena. "Indian Railway History Time line". Irse.bravehost.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  6. ^ a b "Trains to chug out soon on Virudhunagar - Manamadurai broad gauge section". The Times of India. 7 March 2013. Archived from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  7. ^ "Commissioner of railway safety inspection on Virudhunagar - Manamadurai BG section soon". The Times of India. 14 June 2013. Archived from the original on 5 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  8. ^ "Virudhunagar-Manamadurai section gears up for speed trials". The Times of India. 20 June 2013. Archived from the original on 5 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  9. ^ "Virudhunagar-Manamadurai BG section thrown open for traffic". The Times of India. 15 July 2013. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  10. ^ "After five years, regular train services back on Virudhunagar - Manamadurai section". The Times of India. 8 September 2013. Archived from the original on 5 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.

External links[edit]