It is working to expedite plans to reconstruct the 18-km railway line between Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi
It is working to expedite plans to reconstruct the 18-km railway line between Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi
Nearly 60 years after Dhanushkodi was worn out by a devastating cyclone in 1964, the Indian Railways is working to expedite plans to revive this ghost city by reconstructing the 18-km railway line between Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi.
The Railways has begun the method of buying land for the ₹733-crore challenge, for which the inspiration stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019. About 28.6 hectares are forest land and 43.81 hectares belong to the State authorities, whereas 3.66 hectares are privately held.
The ruins of the deserted station, which have turn into the identification of the city over the previous six many years, could be razed to make manner for the brand new station, Madurai Division’s Assistant Executive Engineer Anand advised The Hindu. “The ruins will have to be removed…We can’t keep it as a heritage site also, simply because the new railway line is proposed to go through there,” he stated.
The ruins of the outdated station and the close by space are additionally house to about 300 households residing in makeshift homes with out fundamental facilities. Mr. Anand stated this was an “encroachment” and these households might want to vacate the land. This land, he stated, was railway land, however was taken over by the district administration put up the cyclone, and now, the Railways will re-acquire it.
According to the draft plan, the world the place these households live will type the yard of the brand new Dhanushkodi Railway Station, on the tip of Pamban Island, separated from the mainland by the Palk Strait.
The cyclone had washed away the Rameswaram-Dhanushkodi rail monitor together with a practice and different infrastructure, leaving over 100 individuals useless and bringing to a halt a practice service that offered an important hyperlink through sea between Mandapam in India and Colombo in Sri Lanka, which was simply 18 km away.
Once the requisite approvals have been obtained, the challenge would take round 18 months to be accomplished, and is predicted to provide a brand new lease of life to Dhanushkodi by simpler entry. Mr. Anand stated about 20,000 vacationers had been anticipated to go to Rameswaram by 2041, and a big chunk of them had been prone to go to Dhanushkodi as properly.
While the villagers are unsure of what’s in retailer for them and the way the relocation would work out, they imagine Dhanushkodi ought to be linked with the remainder of the nation, particularly given its cultural and spiritual significance. Within the dilapidated station is a small temple, the place guests might see and contact one of many famed ‘floating stones’ which had been used to assemble the Ram Setu, as per Hindu mythology.
“They have not been able to bring electricity and other basic amenities to the area for decades. How will they bring a railway line?” requested Dhanushkodi resident Karipaswami, who misplaced his complete household within the cyclone, and survived solely as a result of he was in Rameswaram.
“It will be good for Dhanushkodi if the railway line materialises…But there has been no development in the area for decades,” he added.
According to the proposal which is awaiting approval, an 18-kilometre line will likely be constructed between Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi – 5 km at floor degree and the remaining elevated monitor. The single line will likely be electrified and linked to the broad gauge.
The proposed rail line from Rameswaram may have three halt stations and one terminal station.
Source: www.thehindu.com
