It was reported that Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Sakthi V. Somanna inspected the ongoing redevelopment work at Puducherry railway station on Sunday. According to a release from the Tiruchirappalli Division of Southern Railway, the central minister's visit was intended to review the progress of the redevelopment projects at Puducherry station, which are expected to significantly improve passenger amenities and infrastructure.

The redevelopment of Puducherry railway station, which is being undertaken at a cost of Rs 92 crores, includes the construction of two main buildings with centralized air conditioning, similar to airport facilities, complete with separate drop-off and pick-up bays. The project also involves renovating and upgrading existing platforms and platform shelters, building two new Foot Overbridges, and constructing a new parcel office, drivers' room, operational building, sewage treatment plant, and parking areas for various types of vehicles including four-wheelers, two-wheelers, taxis, and autorickshaws.

During his inspection, the Union Minister evaluated various aspects of the redevelopment, including improvements to the station layout, modernization of facilities, and the implementation of new safety measures. He interacted with key project personnel and field staff to get an update on the current status of the redevelopment and address any operational challenges.

Additional General Manager of Railways Kaushal Kishore, Chief Administrative Officer (Construction) Amit Kumar Manual, Divisional Railway Manager Tiruchirappalli M.S. Anbalagan, and Chief Engineer (Construction) K. Ravi Kumar briefed Somanna on the project's features. The officials informed the Minister that efforts were being made to complete the redevelopment work within the stipulated timeframe while minimizing disruption to passenger services. The Speaker of the Puducherry Assembly R. Selvam, Home Minister of Puducherry A. Namassivayam, Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament S. Selvaganapathy, and other legislators were also present during the visit.