Railways to raze colonial era overbridge near Tiruchi Fort station on May 13
The Southern Railway Construction Organisation is set to demolish the British-era built overbridge near the Tiruchi Fort Railway Station on May 13. The bridge above the electrified Tiruchi-Karur broad gauge linking the busy Salai road with the Main Guard gate has remained closed for over a year now to pave the way for the construction of a new structure.
Railway sources said the work of demolishing the bridge will begin on Tuesday morning with the exercise expected to go on till the late night hours. The Southern Railway Construction Organisation has sought line block and power block on the Tiruchi-Karur BG section from the Tiruchi Railway Division to carry out the demolition work. The new overbridge is being built jointly by the Southern Railway and the Tiruchi Corporation.
The railways will build the structure on its portion above the Tiruchi-Karur railway track while the Corporation is building the approach roads on either side. The Southern Railway Construction Organisation is to build the structure on its portion above the railway line at a cost of over ₹10 crore. The Tiruchi Corporation has sanctioned over ₹34 crore for laying the approach roads.
The sources said the construction of the overbridge is expected to take 10 months for completion with the contract having been awarded already.
Trains cancelled
In view of the dismantling of the existing overbridge, the Tiruchi Railway Division has announced the cancellation of six trains besides partial cancellation of a couple of others and diversion of two other trains.
The trains cancelled are Tiruchi-Karur-Tiruchi passenger (76809-10), Tiruchi-Erode passenger (56105), Mayiladuthurai-Salem-Mayiladuthurai Express (16811-12), and Erode-Tiruchi passenger (Train No. 56810).
Partial cancellation
The Palghat Town-Tiruchi Express (16844) scheduled to leave Palghat Town at 6.30 a.m. on May 13 will be short terminated at Karur. The train will run from Palghat Town to Karur only. The Tiruchi-Palghat Town Express (16843) scheduled to leave Tiruchi Junction at 1 p.m. on May 13 will be partially cancelled between Tiruchi Junction and Karur. The train will commence its journey from Karur at its scheduled departure time of 2.20 p.m.
Diversion of train
The Karaikal-Ernakulam Express (16187) scheduled to leave Karaikal at 4.30 p.m. on May 13 will be diverted at Tiruchi Junction and run via Dindigul Junction and Karur skipping halts at Tiruchi Fort and Kulithalai stations. Additional halt will be provided at Dindigul Junction.
The Mangalore-Tambaram Express (16160) scheduled to leave Mangalore Central at 6.45 a.m. on May 13 will be regulated for 120 minutes at a convenient location enroute. The Mannargudi-Coimbatore Chemmozhi Express (16615) scheduled to leave Mannargudi at 8.25 p.m. on May 13 will be regulated for 40 minutes at a convenient location enroute, a press release from the Tiruchi Railway Division said.
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