NEW RAMESWARAM-DHANUSHKODI LINE UNLIKELY TO COME TO FRUITION

Project stalled as track alignment passes through highly fragile ecological zone, say sources

- B ANBUSELVAN

Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi laying the foundation stone in January 2019, the 17.2km new line project has remained stalled for five years.

The state government has identified the planned route as an ecologically sensitive zone and informed the railways to either revise or drop the project.

Multiple sources from both the state government and the railways told TNIE the project stalled primarily due to the track's alignment which passes through a highly fragile ecological zone. The 3(2) notifications for land acquisition, issued by the state government, has also been put on hold because the proposed line intersects with the Rameswaram-Dhanushkodi highway.