Newly laid BG track 'not bad,' report in two weeks:Official

Terming the 55-KM Pollachi Junction-Palakkad Town newly laid broad gauge track as 'not bad,' S K Mittal, Commissioner of Railway Safety, Southern Circle, Bengaluru, today said his decision will be communicated in two weeks, after studying and evaluating the data collected on various aspects of safety.
Mittal, who continued his inspection of track from Mudalamadai in Kerala to Pollachi in Tamil Nadu this morning, told reporters at Pollachi that he has made thorough inspection of the section and the decision would be made known within two weeks.
"The track is not bad," he said while generally assessing the track safety.

The speed trial run from Pollachi started at 3.20 PM and assumed an average speed of 100 Kmph to arrive at Palakkad Town station at 3.58 PM. The stretch was covered in just 38 minutes, with continuous blaring of horn throughout the journey to alert the public.
Adequate safety precautions had already been arranged at all the Level crossing gates, especially those left unmanned in this section, a release from southern railways said.
Prafulla Varma, chief engineer, Construction wing, who accompanied Mittal, said Podanur-Kinathukadavu-Pollachi Gauge Conversion works were in progress and is expected to be completed in the next financial year.

Besides Varma, Mittal was accompanied by P K Mishra, Chief Administrative Officer, R. Ramakrishnan, Deputy Chief Engineer, Construction wing, Chennai Egmore along with Anand Prakash, Divisional Railway Manager, Palakkad, Officers of Palakkad Division and Southern Railway Construction wing, during the inspection.