Railway electrification: New arrangement planned for overhead equipment near INS Parandu near Ramanathapuram

Indian Naval Air Station approves railway electrification between Ramanathapuram and Rameswaram, leading to underground cable installation near INS Parundu.

With Indian Naval Air Station, INS Parundu, giving its nod for railway electrification between Ramanathapuram and Rameswaram, Madurai Division of Southern Railway has planned for underground laying of the overhead cable for some 220 metres close to the Naval Air Station near Uchipuli railway station.

Though railway electrification has been completed in all the main lines and branch lines of Madurai Division, the work could not be taken up for long on Ramanathapuram-Rameswaram section due to objection from INS Parundu.

Initially, INS Parudu denied permission for the railway electrification as it was planning extension of its runway. Consequently, Southern Railway planned to take the railway track between Valantharavai and Uchipuli railway stations in a different alignment that would be away from the Naval Air Station.

This had led to much delay in electrification of the section.

“However, now we have got the clearance for electrification of the section from INS Parundu. As of now, the electrification would be taken up till Rameswaram as a temporary measure,” said Madurai Divisional Railway Manager, Sharad Srivastava.

Track realignment could be considered later when the runway extension is taken up by the Naval Air Station, he added.

Meanwhile, INS Parundu has asked the railway administration not to have its electrical cable above the track near its campus as the overhead equipment system, carrying 25,000 Volt of power, could interfere with the communication equipment of the air station.