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Our Correspondent

Madurai , Sept. 15

THE Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED) here has submitted a feasibility report for a new broad gauge (BG) line between Madurai and Kottayam to the Union Ministry of Railways.

The report has suggested that the BG line was commercially viable and once on stream, would greatly help boost trade between Madurai and Kerala. The study has highlighted the freight component of the traffic, sources in the Railways said. The report is under consideration, they added.

According to the President, Tamilnadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr S. Rethinavelu, once the conversion is through, the freight traffic would pick up strongly as Kerala is dependent on the Railways for movement of various items from other parts of the country. Kottayam being an important trade centre, the movement of freight to central and northern Kerala would pick up significantly.

The survey, conducted by CED, has highlighted that more than half of the truck traffic at present would become rail-bound traffic, including agricultural products such as fruits and vegetables.

It is also pointed out by industrialists here that the proposed conversion would help boost the quantum of freight movement at the Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Madurai. Also benefiting would be the CPS Milling cluster that depends on the Railways for movement of raw materials. The transportation cost would get significantly reduced, they pointed out.

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