4 Steam Engine For NMR
Railways have given orders for four steam engines for Nilgiris Mountain Rail (NMR), Union Minister of State for Railways R Velu said on Saturday. The engines, at a cost of Rs 10 crore each, are being manufactured in Switzerland and would be delivered in a year Velu told reporters in Udhagamandalam. Velu, in Udhagamandalam to review the progress of various works, including renovation of platform and its surrounding areas and the Coonoor railway station, said railways would take up soon the proposal of electrification of Mettupalayam-Coimbatore line The entire railway track in Tamil Nadu would become broadgauge in another two years, he said.Asked about the delay in Sathyamangalam-Chamaraj Nagar rail line, Velu said the route, along with Nilambur-Gudalur line, was awaiting clearance from the forest ministry. A month-long celebrations would be held to mark the centenary of NMR, being extended to Udhagamandalam (then Ooty), which was run from Mettupalayam to Coonoor till 1908, from October 15, he said. Udhagamandalam station would have an unreserved ticket service counter soon, Velu said.
