The Rs. 520 crore outlay for Tamil Nadu in the Railways has increased to about Rs.4,000 crore in the last three years, which reflected in the interest taken by the Railways for developing infrastructure in the State, Railway Minister, Suresh Prabhu said here today.

Inaugurating the new passenger facilities at a cost of over Rs.15 crores at the Coimbatore station, the Minister urged the State Government to join hands with Indian Railways for infrastructure development.

Prabhu inaugurated a slew of modern amenities such as two AC executive lounges, AC dormitory, additional retiring rooms and waiting room facilities. He also laid the foundation stones for two escalators and two lifts, a skywalk with escalators and automated multi level car parking facility.

He also laid the foundation stone for extension of platforms 1 and 2 to hold 24 coaches at Mettupalayam Railway Station and a new freight terminal at Irugur was dedicated to the nation.

Stating that the new facilities at Coimbatore would largely benefit the local people as well as the tourists arriving here en route Nilgiris, Prabhu hailed the people of the State for their hard working and appreciated the keen interest shown by the MPs from the State for developing the State.

The total cost of AC executive lounges, AC dormitory, additional retiring rooms and waiting rooms is Rs.85 lakhs, while two escalators and two lifts would cost Rs.4 crores and one of the kind modern skywalk Rs.3.5 crores. The multi level car parking facility at a cost of Rs. 2 crores would address the traffic issues of rail users for parking four wheelers safely.

The proposal to extend Platform 1 and 2 at the station to hold 24 coaches would be at a cost of Rs.3.5 crores. The cost of the freight terminal at Irugur Railway station would be Rs.2.5 crores.