Railway infrastructure developments around Madurai
Railway infrastructure development usually trickles down to Madurai in tiny amount. So it comes as a surprise that quite a few development projects were announced in Railway budget 2008-09.
The single-most important announcement is the double-line between Villupuram & Dindigul on Madurai-Chennai route. The Madurai – Dindigul metre gauge (MG) line is being converted into broad guage (BG) which keeps dragging and now expected to complete by June 08. Another vital announcement is the conversion of Madurai – Bodi MG line into BG.
It’s another matter that announcements in budget takes it’s own time to materialize. The Villupuram-Chengalpattu double-line is still progressing at crawling pace. The estimate of double-line being operational between Madurai & Chennai by 2011 is a bit optimistic.
With the double-line in operation, should 495-km journey take 7 hours? If they can maintain the average speed close to 100-hours, it should be around 5.30 hours. Is it too much to expect?
