VELLORE: It has been 10 years since foundation stone was laid for the Tindivanam-Nagari railway line. But the project is yet to be realised due to the lack of funds.
The foundation stone for the project, which aims at connecting the interior parts of the northern districts of the State and facilitate additional railway lines to Puducherry, was laid at Ranipet Railway Station in 2007.
The proposed 180-km broad gauge railway line will pass through Villupuram, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai and Tiruvallur districts and also Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh. According to the plan, the line would have to pass over the Cheyyar and Palar rivers and National Highways 46 and 4 as well.
The project cost, which was initially estimated at Rs 498 crore in 2007, soared to Rs 582.32 crore by 2012. The cost is expected to go beyond Rs 650 crore next year.
The proposal stipulated setting up of 18 new railway stations between Tindivanam and Nagari. It included new stations at Vandavasi, Cheyyar, Arni, Arcot, Ranipet, Walajah Road, Kodaikal and Pallipattu. Stations apart, as many as 226 bridges – 26 major and 200 minor – should be constructed.
In 2007, the project was launched with Rs 20 crore allocation. The funds had been utilised for revival of railway line between Ranipet and Walajah Road and for building a new railway station at Ranipet.
Now, the building that should have served as a railway station wears a deserted look. “It has been more than five years since the station building was constructed. Now, it is a favourite spot of drunkards and other anti-social elements, even during daytime. We still board trains at Walajah Road Station,” said R Sarvanan from Ellappan Nagar, who resides near the abandoned railway station.
After launching the project in 2007, adequate funds were not allotted for the project till 2011. The Union Railway Budget announced Rs 71 crore allocation in 2011-2012, Rs 20 crore in 2012-13, Rs 10 crore in 2014-15 and Rs 5 crore in 2015-16.
However, sources from construction wing of the Railways told Express that the funds had not been allotted as per the budget announcement since 2011.
When contacted, the officials from the Southern Railway (construction) said tenders had been floated for building bridges between Tindivanam and Cheyyar line.
“The project will take off only if we get sufficient funds from the government,” an official said.