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NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 12:
 

Southern Railway general manager Thomas Varghese presenting a shield to Chief Public Relation Officer Krishnamoorthy in Chennai yesterday.

        A sum of Rs 300 crore has been allotted to make Chennai Central and Thiruvananthapuram Railway Stations world-class stations, general manager of Southern Railway Thomas Varghese has said.

        Speaking at the inauguration of the 52nd Railway Week celebrations here yesterday, Varghese said Southern Railway had been doing extremely good and efforts were on to further improve standards.

        Referring to the improvements made, he said that last year, there was surplus of 12,000 crore in turnover and this year, it touched Rs 20,000 crore. There was a 12 per cent increase in passenger travel and 20 per cent rise in goods transport from major stations, he pointed out.

        Briefing on major initiatives, Varghese said that in relation to the last year's figure of Rs 42 crore, a sum of Rs 100 crore had been allotted this year to improve the basic amenities at the railway stations. He said as part of it, Southern Railway would be setting up budget hotels and food plazas at major stations.

        Another Rs 3 crore to Rs 4 crore would be spent to upgrade security at the station by setting up surveillance cameras, scanners, establishing dog squads, bomb disposal squads and others, he added.

        On increase of revenue of Southern Railway, he said that so far, statistics showed a positive increase of revenue during the end of this financial year.

        The broadguage work between Manamaduari and Rameshwaram had been completed and similar work between Villupuram-Mayiladuthurai, Thirunelveli-Thiruchendur, Salem-Virudhunagar, Pudukottai-Karaikudi- Manamadurai, Thiruvarur-Nagoor, Thiruvannamalai- Podhanoor-Coimbatore would be completed by this year, he added.

        He also said the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) from Velachery-Perungudi was nearing completion.

        He stressed the need to put up check-posts and under- pass at unmanned level-crossings to avoid accidents. He said that last year alone, there were 11 accidents at the unmanned gateways and there was a dire need to prevent such mishaps.

        Later, Varghese gave away shields and awards to around 300 awardees for their meritorious contribution and efforts towards the better cause of railway.

        Southern Railway additional general manager R Ramanathan, senior assistant general manager V Karmaliz, Southern Railway Women Welfare Association president Rosy Thomas were present on the occasion.