24 January 2018

Railways laid foundation Stone for Rs.3618 crore Doubling with Electrification projects in Madurai – Vanchimaniyachi-Tuticorin / Tirunelveli - Nagercoil- Kanniyakumari-Thiruvananthapuram section

Shri.RajenGohain, Hon’ble Union Minister of State of Railways laid the foundation stone for Rs.3618 crore Doubling with Electrication projects covering 349 kms in Kanniyakumari-Nagercoil-Thiruvananthapuram section at a function held in Nagercoil Junction Railway station today, 23rd of January, 2018. Besides laying  the foundation stone for three infrastructural projects, Shri.RajenGohain inaugurated/dedicated Escalator facility, Wi-Fi services and 100% LED lighting facilities at Nagercoil Junction Railway station.

Shri.PonRadhakrishnan, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Finance and Shipping, Shri.kadamburRaju, Hon’ble Minister for Information & Publicity, Govt. of Tamilnadu, Shri. A. Vijayakumar, Hon’ble M.P., Shri.J.G.Prince, MLA, Shri.N.SureshRajan , MLA, Shri.S.Austin, MLA and  Shri.H.Vasantha Kumar, MLA participated and graced the occasion.

Shri.R.K.Kulshrestha, General Manager, Southern Railway welcomed the dignitaries and addressed the gathering.  Shri.PrakashBhutani, DRM, Trivandrum, Ms.NeenuIttyerah, DRM, Madurai, Prinicipal Heads of Departments ,Officers and staff of Southern Railway participated in the function.

Speaking o­n the occasion, Shri.PonRadhakrishnan, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Finance and Shipping expressed his happiness about the sanction accorded by Central Government for the  entireKanniyakumari – Thiruvananthapuram  Rs 4000 crore rail development project .  He added that he is thankful to Hon’ble Prime Minister of India and Union Railway Minister in this regard.  He said the joint efforts of the Centre and state Governments will bring revolutionary changes in Kanniyakumari Region.

Shri.Rajen Gohain, Hon’ble Union Minister of State of Railways while addressing the gathering stated that Indian Railways is taking continued efforts to enhance facilities for passengers . He said that more customer-oriented facilities are being implemented.  He lauded Southern Railways’ efforts to implement 100% LED at all stations and praised Southern Railways’ initiatives to eliminate Level Crossings thus ensuring safety of rail users.  The minister added that the Outlay for Tamilnadu this fiscal year 2017-18 is Rs.2287 crores, which is an increase of about 160% over the financial years from 2009-10 to 2016-17 and the increase in the outlay for Passenger amenities from Rs.33 crore in the fiscal 2016-17 to Rs.38 crore in 2017-18.  The minister, o­n a concluding note cited that he was delighted to visit Kanniyakumari which has seen the footprints of Swami Vivekananda.