After the electrification work is completed, the Karaikal-Peralam railway line is ready for inspection

Elevated electrification work is done on a new line between Karaikal and Peralam. |Picture source: Special arrangement

As elevated electrification work was completed on the new Broadgauge railway line, the Karaikal-Peralam department is ready for inspection by the Chief Chief Electrical Engineer (PCEE), the Southern Railway-Indian government’s electric official inspector.

PCEE will inspect the 23.5km line on May 20 and will be inspected accompanied by senior railway officials from the Southern Railway Construction Organization and Tiruchi Railway Department.

The task of the Southern Railway Construction Organization is to build a new line between Karaikal and Peralam through the Thirunalar of the Tiruchi Railway Department.

Initially, there was a meter line in this section. Train service was suspended about 40 years ago and the track was subsequently deleted. After four decades of gap, the new track will now restore the railway connection between Karakar and Peram.

Railway sources said elevated electrification is part of the Karaikal-Peralam Line project. Electrification work was carried out simultaneously by building a new Broadgauge track. “As the inspections scheduled for PCEE on May 20, all work related to overhead electrification has been completed,” the source said.

Formal communications about PCEE inspections have also been transferred to the Tiruchi Railway Department. Sources said PCEE will start inspections from a special train in Karaikal in the morning and end in Peralam in the afternoon. Top railway officials will conduct a speed trial on a special train that will be towed from Peralam to Karaikal at night.

PCEE inspections should provide vitality to the department before the Bangalore Railway Safety Specialist conducts a statutory inspection. The source added that issuing a certificate by PCEE is a must.

The cost of new product lines and electrification is over Rs 3 billion. New station buildings have been built, including Thirunallur along the route. A new small bridge and a main bridge were built along this section.

The new product line is expected to promote freight at the port of Karakar. Tourism movement is expected to rise as several devotees visit the Thirunallar temple. The new route will reduce travel time to Karakar and improve connectivity. Once commissioned, Peralam Station will become the railway junction.