Centre Approves Final Survey For Doubling Palakkad–Pollachi–Podanur Rail Line: Report
The Union government has cleared the final location survey (FLS) for the proposed doubling of the railway line connecting Palakkad, Pollachi and Podanur.
According to the TOI report, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw conveyed the approval through a letter to Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L Murugan.
The survey will examine the feasibility of converting the Palakkad–Kollengode–Anaimalai Road–Pollachi–Kinathukadavu–Podanur route into a double-track railway corridor.
The rail link forms an important part of the regional transport network, with several passenger services connecting major cities such as Madurai, Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, Dindigul, Tiruchendur, Tenkasi and Tirunelveli currently operating along the Pollachi–Coimbatore stretch.
According to T Krishna Balaji, Secretary of the Pollachi Train Passengers Welfare Association, the approval of the survey marks the first major step towards expanding the line’s capacity.
“The Centre had approved the final survey to convert the Palakkad–Kollengode–Anaimalai Road–Pollachi–Kinathukadavu–Podanur railway line into a double-track corridor,” he was quoted as saying by TOI.
The proposed project could also lead to improvements in railway infrastructure along the route. Officials indicated that Anaimalai Road station may be upgraded into a crossing station, while new stations at Kovilpalayam and Chettipalayam are being considered.
Railway observers pointed out that the existing Palakkad–Walayar–Madukkarai–Podanur route passes through forested areas, where trains occasionally encounter wildlife on the tracks.
The alternative alignment through Pollachi is expected to reduce reliance on this forest corridor and may help limit incidents of elephants being struck by trains.
Although the Pollachi route is approximately 40 km longer, railway officials said trains could maintain similar journey times due to higher speeds on the upgraded line.
Officials said the final location survey will involve technical assessments and route alignment studies, after which the project will move towards administrative approval and eventual construction.
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