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Yal
Devi train at the Thandikulama station
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The operation of Yal Devi train will be extended up to Kilinochchi by Septermber, CeyNews reported.
The 80 percent of the
construction work of the Omanthai to Pallai section on the Northern railway
line has already been completed as of now with the focus on completing the
first phase of the project upto Kilinochchi by September this year. The Yaldevi which travelled only up to
Madawachchiya after 1990, was restricted to Vavuniya, during the final stages
of the war. It was on June 7, 2009 that the Yaldevi recommenced operations to
Thandikulam. The Yal Devi then extended its run to Omanthai on May 29 of 2011. By
the end of 2014, the rail track up to Kankesanthurai (KKS) would be completed. The construction
of the rail track and fixing of bridges and culverts will also be included
under this project at a cost of US$ 185 million.
This section of the track is having crossing stations and
sub-stations at Puliyankulam, Mankulam, Murikkandi, Kilinochchi, Paranthan,
Elephant Pass (Halt) and Pallai. The existing railway stations will be
redeveloped to facilitate the project. Although the former track was constructed with a design speed of
80 kilometres per hour, the new track will have a design speed of 120
kilometres per hour. There are seven crossing stations between Pallai and
Kankesanthurai and the stations are located in Kodikamam, Chavakachcheri,
Navatkuli, Jaffna, Kondavil and Chunnakam. The 11 sub-stations are at
Elthumadduval, Mirusavil, Meesalai, Sangasthanai, Kachchanthoppu, Punhankulam,
Kokuvil, Lunuvil, Mallakam and Thelippallai. This section of the project costs
US$ 149 million.
The main challenge we faced in this project is the supply of
gravel. Since the project comes within the Jaffna peninsula where gravel is not
available, the gravel needed for the project has to be brought from the
Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts. Mainly 111 level crossings are
there within 65 kilometres and that is not healthy for the speed of the train.
There are three stations, between the 43 kilometre stretch between
Medawachchiya and Madhu Road and they are Nellikulum, Chettikulum and Madhu Road.
The construction work of this section of the rail track was started
on March 23, 2011. The cost of the project from Medawachchiya to Madhu is US$
81.31 million.
The US$ 149.74 million project of laying the rail track from Madhu
to Talaimannar include the construction of the Talaimannar pier. There are
three major bridges to facilitate the project and there will be a 100 foot
three span bridge, and a 100 foot two span bridge. The Talaimannar pier is 960
feet in length. Five crossing stations and three sub-stations will be there
between Madhu Road and Talaimannar. The five main stations will be Murunkan, Mannar, Pesalai,
Talaimannar and the Taliamannar Pier.
The other three halts are located at Manthottam,
Thiruketheeswaran and Thoddaweli. The rail track has a design speed of 120
kilometres per hour, but normally a train can run at a speed of 100 kilometres
per hour. That means within one and a half hours you can travel from
Medawachchiya to Talaimannar. The completion of the Medawachchiya, Talaimannar
rail track along with the Talaimannar pier will pave the way to create the
shortest link between India and Sri Lanka with the starting of the ferry
service between Talaimannar and Rameswaran.
The Railway Department under the Ministry of Transport and with huge financial assistance from the Indian government under the Indian Line of Credit has embarked on this massive project of restoring the Northern rail tracks to restart the train services connecting the Northern town again to the South through rail links. The Indian Railway Construction Company Limited (IRCON) has undertaken the construction work as the key contractor of the project.
The Railway Department under the Ministry of Transport and with huge financial assistance from the Indian government under the Indian Line of Credit has embarked on this massive project of restoring the Northern rail tracks to restart the train services connecting the Northern town again to the South through rail links. The Indian Railway Construction Company Limited (IRCON) has undertaken the construction work as the key contractor of the project.
