Manamadurai–Virudhunagar line

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

Manamadurai–Virudhunagar line
Manamadurai Junction railway station
Overview
StatusOperating
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleTamil Nadu
TerminiManamadurai Junction (MNM)
Virudhunagar Junction (VPT)
Stations5
Websitewww.sr.indianrailways.gov.in
Service
TypeExpress train
Passenger train
Services1
Operator(s)Southern Railway zone
Depot(s)Golden Rock
History
Opened2 May 1964 (1964-05-02)
Technical
Line length67 km (42 mi)
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
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)
Route map
km
to Karaikkudi Junction
 to Madurai Junction
0
 Manamadurai Junction
to Rameswaram
22
 Narikkudi
35
 Tiruchchuli
45
 Aruppukkottai
to Madurai Junction
67
 Virudhunagar Junction
to Tirunelveli Junction
 to Tenkasi Junction

History

A new railway line from Manamadurai Junction–Virudhunagar Junction was proposed in the Third Five Year plan, which was supposed to ease the pressure on the existing Manamadurai Junction–Madurai Junction and Madurai Junction–Virudhunagar Junction sections.[2] On 1 September 1963, the 22.66 kilometres (14.08 mi) Virudhunagar Junction–Aruppukkottai 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) Aruppukkottai–Manamadurai Junction section was thrown to traffic.[5] Opened with meter gauge tracks, the 67 kilometres (42 mi) section had three crossing railway stations viz., Aruppukkottai, Tiruchchuli and Narikkudi catering immensely the passengers of the region and Tuticorin for traffic of goods.[6]

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$32 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
  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. 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. "Trains to chug out soon on Virudhunagar - Manamadurai broad gauge section". The Times of India. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  7. "Commissioner of railway safety inspection on Virudhunagar - Manamadurai BG section soon". The Times of India. 14 June 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  8. "Virudhunagar-Manamadurai section gears up for speed trials". The Times of India. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  9. "Virudhunagar-Manamadurai BG section thrown open for traffic". The Times of India. 15 July 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  10. "After five years, regular train services back on Virudhunagar - Manamadurai section". The Times of India. 8 September 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
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