MARGAO
After disruptions in the work schedule by the Covid-19 pandemic and also because of the anti-track doubling protests, the stage is finally set for the speed trials on the newly-laid line on the Sanvordem-Chandor-Margao stretch on Thursday.
As part of the Statutory inspection by the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Southern Circle, speed trial by a special train will be conducted on the 15.6-km double track between Sanvordem-Margao laid by the South Western Railway as part of the ambitious Tinaighat-Vasco-da-Gama track-doubling project.
The work is believed to have cost the railways around Rs 150 crore.
Track doubling on the Sanvordem-Margao stretch was initiated by on January 18, 2018, with a deadline to complete it within two years.
Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd, General Manager, Projects, D C Sahoo, who was in charge of the project, said the pandemic and protests delayed the trial run on the newly laid track by over a year.
This double-tracking project was the epicentre of the anti-coal and anti-track doubling agitation for over two years, intensifying into the historic midnight candlelight vigil on the Chandor railway tracks around a year ago on November 1 last year.
As per the plan drawn up by the railways, the SWR is expected to run trains on the newly-laid track after receiving the safety certificate from the Commissioner of Railway Safety, tentatively from October 10.
Says Sahoo: “During the speed trial, trains will run at a speed in excess of 120 km/h on the newly laid line. Regular train services will be introduced on the double line after receiving the nod from the Commissioner of Railway Safety. Regular trains running on the track are expected to run at a speed of 120 km/h from October 1.”
He said besides laying the double track, the RVNL has taken up construction of three underpasses along the 15.6 km stretch, one each at Sanvordem, Chandor and Sao Jose de Areal. Besides, work on a road overbridge (RoB) is underway at Sao Jose de Areal, with the railways expecting the state government to build the approach roads to the ROB.
Sahoo said the stations at Sanvordem, Chandor and Sao Jose de Areal have been upgraded, with additional platforms. “Two platforms have been proposed at Sanvordem and two at Chandor. We have built one platform at Chandor and the second one will take shape in Phase-II,” Sahoo said.
To a question, Sahoo said work on the Sanvordem-Collem section of the track doubling project is in progress, adding that work has slowed down at a stretch because of issues of private forest.
