CHENNAI: Against the backdrop of a budget announcement on undertaking a pre-feasibility study for developing the Royapuram railway station, a delegation of the Tamil Nadu Rail Passengers’ Rights Tribune met Minister for Railways Mukul Roy recently, urging him to speed up the process. “The Minister has assured us a private firm will be appointed to take up the study, and his subordinates have been instructed to look into the issue,” A T B Bose, co-convener of the Tribune told City Express. The office-bearers of the group, accompanied by parliamentarians from Tamil Nadu, called on the Railways Minister at New Delhi on May 9 in this connection. The proposed study is significant, as the feasibility of converting the third oldest station in the country into a railway terminal will be examined by the yet-to-be-identified agency. According to Bose, a fresh report comprising various features of the (Royapuram) railway station was submitted to the Minister. “We requested the Minister to consider our report, when the study is undertaken,” he said.Spread over an area of 72 acres near the Harbour, Royapuram will house Chennai’s fourth terminal, following Central, Egmore and the upcoming terminal at Tambaram, if the study favours the development. The pre-feasibility study was decided on, following several representations, former minister for Railways Dinesh Trivedi informed the Parliament, while presenting his Railway budget for the year 2012-13 on March 14.It may be recalled that a high level committee led by executive director (coaching) of the Railway Board Mukesh Nigam inspected the station to explore the possibility of converting it into a full-fledged terminal. The panel held discussions with representatives of the local people on several issues involved in the process on January 21.
Comments
0 comment