Chennai: Around 23 trains plying from Chennai to Katpadi and vice versa have been diverted or cancelled after a railway bridge developed cracks near Arakkonam.
The restoration of the damaged railway bridge across the Ponnai, a tributary of the Palar, in Vellore district has been going on. Support columns are being erected around the damaged brick and mortar pillar.
Thousands of people’s holiday plans are affected as train services between Chennai, Karnataka, and Kerala, among other places, will remain disrupted today and Sunday. While 22 express trains have been cancelled, the routes of six others have been shortened.
The Divisional Railway Manager said in a tweet, ‘Due to the suspension of traffic on Bridge no. 299 on the Arakkonam-Katpadi section as a result of structural damage to the bridge, the following is the change in the pattern of train services in terms of cancellation and diversion. Please plan your travel accordingly.’
Built in 1865, the bridge has 56 pillars, covering 914 metres. These pillars, railway officials say, have a lifespan of 60 years. Such British-era bridges were identified for demolition by Southern Railway a few years ago. The Elephant Gate bridge, built in 1915 between Chennai Central and Basin Bridge Junction, is an example.
Among the trains cancelled are those from Chennai Central to Mysuru, KSR Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, Coimbatore, Mettupalayam
(Nilgiri Express), Erode (Yercaud Express), and Jolarpettai.