The Southern Railways will soon start floating tenders for the construction of the much awaited Thudiyalur Railway Station, which has been lying without use by the Southern Railways citing reasons of less traffic in the route.

Briefing media persons here after laying the foundation for the renovation of the Periyanaickenpalayam Railway junction in Coimbatore here on Saturday, Divisional Railway Manager of Salem Division Shubhranshu said that with the fund amounting to Rs.44 lakh already being received by the Railways from the Corporation, the tenders for the Rs.1 crore project would be floated in two weeks’ time.

“We are even planning to increase the frequency of the trains in the coming days, but it would take time,” said Shubhranshu.

Lauding the efforts of the Laxmi Mills Works Limited in Periyanaickenpalayam in Coimbatore for donating Rs.75 lakh for the renovation of the Periyanaickenpalayam railway junction, Shubhranshu said that this was the first-of-its-kind Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project in which the complete project was sponsored by a corporate house.

“We have projects in which only certain parts are sponsored. But this entire project is funded by LMW, which is very good,” he said.

Claiming that pooling in such amount in a short time was difficult for the Southern Railways, Shubhranshu also added that the development works in the project involved construction of the main building, extension of platforms and setting up a garden in the front.

Replying to a question whether the railways would introduce new trains between Mettupalayam and Udhagamandalam to clear the summer rush, Shubhranshu said that the facility between Mettupalayam and Coonoor was such that only one train could be operated in the route.

“We have added an extra coach and there are already four trains running between Coonoor and Udhagamandalam,” said the DRM.