Coimbatore: The Southern Railway, Salem Division, has announced that rebuilding of bridge no: 63 on the Mettupalayam – Coonoor section that was washed away in the landslips of the previous year is expected to be over in 20 days to commence the Nilgiris Mountain Railway (NMR) service for the summer tourist season. The work is in its final stages.

After the restoration of train traffic between Coonoor and Udhagamandalam on January 5, the restoration work on the 27-km-long Mettupalayam – Coonoor section was progressing in full swing. Bridge no: 66, at Km 18/7-8, with a span of 3 x 9.14 metre had been completely rebuilt. Trial run of a material train over the bridge was successfully carried out on March 25. Work is on at bridge no: 56, and no: 63.

Bridge no: 63, between Hillgrove and Runneymede, which was temporarily strengthened using steel cribs, and used for some time to ferry materials, has been dismantled completely and a new bridge is being built at an approximate height of 8 metres.

For construction of this bridge at KM 18/1-2, two girders of 9.14 metre length have been fabricated and moved from Mettupalayam to the bridge spot. Once the work is completed, the NMR traffic between Mettupalayam – Coonoor will resume.

Courtesy - Hindu