The ongoing construction of the exclusive shed for the maintenance of Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) rakes at Tiruchi is to take more time for completion even as works are apace at the project site.

The ₹60-crore facility to carry out maintenance of conventional /three-phase MEMU rakes is being established on a sprawling railway land near the Manjathidal railway station situated along the Tiruchi-Thanjavur electrified broad gauge section.  The Southern Railway Construction Organisation has been entrusted with the task of constructing the MEMU shed on an area measuring 60,000 square metres with a host of facilities inside.

A Railway official said nearly 90% of the construction work, including the covered shed, administrative building, and a catwalk pathway for inspection of the rakes inside the facility, have been completed. The remaining civil work is expected to be completed by September. As part of the project, two pitline has been laid inside the new facility. Each pitline can accommodate eight MEMU cars. 

Electrification and overhead electrical arrangements inside the shed are under progress but are expected to take more time for completion, the official said.  Separate tracks are being constructed to move the MEMU rakes to the new facility for maintenance. 

A separate tender has been floated for the proposed signalling arrangements in connection with the creation of the maintenance facilities for MEMU rakes.  The entire work is expected to take more time for completion of the facility even as work is apace at the site, the official said and added that the shed was expected to be ready next year.

The MEMU shed would come under the control of the Tiruchi Railway Division. In Tiruchi Railway Division, MEMU trains are being operated on the Mayiladuthurai-Salem; Mayiladuthurai-Tiruchi and Villupuram-Puducherry electrified broad gauge sections.