In an attempt to prevent trespassing on rail tracks, a limited use subway is to come up at Melapudur area here. The Tiruchi City Corporation and the Southern Railway are jointly involved in this project with preliminary works having commenced. The subway project is fully funded by the Tiruchi Corporation.
The subway is coming up on the Tiruchi – Karur broad gauge section between Tiruchi Railway Junction and Tiruchi Fort railway station.
As part of the project, Reinforced Cement Concrete boxes have been brought to the project site to be placed below the railway track to enable movement of pedestrians, two-wheelers and smaller vehicles. The upcoming subway would connect Melapudur with the Old Goods Shed Road and Khajapettai.
The Railways would execute the work on its portion, while the Corporation would build the side walls and access roads on either side.
The project has been taken up primarily to ensure safety of schoolchildren many of whom proceed towards Melapudur from the Old Goods Shed and Khajapettai areas, said a civic body official.
In the absence of a subway, public and students cross the railway track so as to reach their destination quickly which poses a hazard.
Numerous residential localities are situated adjoining the railway track especially between Melapudur and Tiruchi Fort railway station thus witnessing frequent trespass.
The subway project is being implemented to prevent trespass and to check incidents of being run over by trains, said a railway official.
Railway sources said a total number of 14 reinforced concrete boxes would be placed below the track to a length of 21 metres.
The civic body has already paid ₹50 lakh to the Railways to execute the work in its portion.
The Corporation would provide access roads on either side besides carrying out other works like preventing water stagnation on the subway during rainy season.
The civic body would spend a little over ₹1 crore to complete its work, said an official adding that the subway was expected to be ready by the year-end. The Railways is expected to complete its portion by the end of July, a senior Railway official said.