The metre gauge section was laid more than a hundred years ago by the British. The gauge conversion work is part of the 357 km Virudhnagar Tenkasi- tirunvellveli- Tiruchendur project with an out lay Rs1,029 crore. On completion, it willalso serve as a shorter route from Thiruvananthapuram to Chennai. The whole gauge conversion of the section is expected to be completed by 2013.
The Punalur-Arayankavu stretch of this section passes through forest areas coming under the Tenmala and Aryankavu forest ranges. But the Railways have enough land in their possession to carry out the gauge conversion work with out touching the forest areas. The section also has a unique 13 arch railway flyover bridging two hills. The flyover would be maintained but strengthend of board gauge traffic.
Railway station on this section built by the British and which still maintains the coconial look be replaced with new buildings. Travelling through the section is a tourists still section to enjoy the scenic beauty on either side. In the past, this section had served as an active trade route bringing in vegetables and provision from the rural farm markets of Tamil Nadu in to Kollam.
Prof. John Kurakar
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