Lok Sabha Debates
Need To Expedite Gauge Conversion Of Palakkad-Pollachi Railway Line. on 4 September, 2012
> Title: Need to expedite gauge conversion of Palakkad-Pollachi railway line.
SHRI M.B. RAJESH (PALAKKAD): Palakkad-Pollachi Meter gauge railway line was built during the British rule and is extremely useful for traders, pilgrims and a large number of passengers. This is an important line connecting two states Kerala and Tamil Nadu. There has been a long pending demand to convert this line into a broad gauge line. This is the shortest route from Thoothukudi airport to Mangalore, Mumbai and Delhi. which shows the commercial importance of this line. Since this line connects major pilgrim centres in Tamil Nadu, hundreds of pilgrims also travel in this route. The gauge conversion work of this line was started in 2008. However, there has not been much progress in the last four years. This delay in the work has also caused cost-escalation. I urge upon the Union Government to expedite the gauge conversion work of Palakkad-Pollachi line and to ensure that the work will be completed this year itself.