Peralam–Karaikal line

Peralam–Karaikal line
Overview
Native name	பேரளம்–காரைக்கால் இருப்புப்பாதை
Type	Regional rail Heavy rail Light rail
Status	Closed (Restoration Under progress)
Locale	Tamil Nadu; Puducherry
Termini	Peralam Junction (PEM) Karaikal (KIK)
Stations	4
Services	1
Website	www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in
Operation
Opened	14 March 1898 (1898-03-14)
Closed	1987 (1987)
Owner	French East India Company (former) Indian Railways (present)
Operator(s)	Great South Indian Railway (former) South Indian Railway Company (later) Southern Railway zone (present)
Depot(s)	Golden Rock
Rolling stock	0-6-0
Technical
Line length	23.5 km (14.6 mi)
Track gauge	1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in)
Operating speed	23 km/h (14 mph)
Route map Legend km to Mayiladuthurai Junction to Thiruvarur Junction 0 Peralam Junction Tamil Nadu Puducherry 8 Ambagarathur 13 Pathakudy 16 Tirunallar 20 Karikovilpathu 23 Karaikal 28 Tirumalarajanpattinam Puducherry Tamil Nadu 34 Nagore 39 Vellipalayam 41 Nagapattinam Beach 43 Nagapattinam Junction to Thiruvarur Junction x20px 53 Velankanni Pappakoil proposed Sembiya Mahadevi proposed Palakkurichi proposed Tirukkuvalai proposed Ettukudi proposed to Thiruvarur Junction 85 Thiruthuraipoondi Junction to Point Calimere to Pattukkottai

The Peralam–Karaikal line is a branch line connects Peralam, Tamil Nadu with Karaikal, Puducherry in South India.

History

This branch line between Peralam Junction and Karaikal was approved for construction by French India during December 1895. The French government invested about 1,201,840 ₣ (approximately ₹1.51 crore (US$220,000) in 2014) for the construction, which was done by the then Great South Indian Railway (which was later merged with South Indian Railway Company) and opened in 14 March 1898.

Route

With a route length of 23.5 kilometres (14.6 mi), the line had four stations Ambagarattur, Paruttikudi, Thirunallar and Karikovilpathu within a stretch of 15.5 kilometres (9.6 mi) up to karaikal, all falling within the territory of French India (now Karaikal district). The rest of 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) between Ambagarattur and Peralam falls within British India region (now Tiruvarur district).

Operations

Passenger services

Though owned by French India, the operations were transferred to the then Great South Indian Railway in accordance with agreement signed in 1902. There were 4 up-and-down services, but due improvement in road connectivity the earnings dropped and subsequently the services were reduced to one in 1943. After Indian Independence and Railway Re-organisation, the line fell into the jurisdiction of Tiruchirappalli railway division. In 1967, citing under utilisation of the line for passenger traffic in its transport survey, the National Council for Applied and Economic Research recommended for closure of line.

Freight services

This line provided rail connectivity to Karaikal port and transfer of goods through rail into British India, as this line would give further connectivity to Mayiladuthurai Junction, which falls on the main line. Cement, fertilisers, tiles, timber, kerosene oil, rice, wheat, grains, pulses and paddy were the main goods involved in traffic. Raw materials like pressed cotton and coal for textile mills and iron billets for Pondicherry Rolling Mills were brought in, processed and the finished product was supplied all over the country. Though the goods traffic density fared better, the passenger traffic slumped and services were called off except the rolling stock.

Restoration

Due to persistent demand from various quarters, revival of line gained momentum for surveying the feasibility outside the purview of Railway Budget, which proposed a rough estimate of about ₹110 crore (US$16 million). Officially, the line was taken up for survey as the announcement came in the 2013–2014 Railway Budget, at an outlay of ₹10 lakh (US$15,000) and at an estimate of about ₹120 crore (US$18 million) for full fledged activities. Apart from retaining the four railway stations in the past and laying broad gauge tracks in the same old path, detour lines of about 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) is planned at Peralam Junction and about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) for Tirunallar yard.

External links

• Southern Railways - Official Website