Rail line to Velankanni by June

Those longing to visit the famous Velankanni Church in Tamil Nadu can now breathe a sigh of relief. This year June, a rail line between Nagapattinam to Velankanni, is expected to complete.

The project costing of Rs 30 crore would enable direct train services in the coastal area.

The Church has apparently contributed Rs 1 crore to the railways for the project.

Two major bridges and 12 minor bridges had been constructed and works were on to finish the rest. Track linking was expected to be taken up in April, railway officials said.

Vailankanni, a hamlet on the sandy shores of the Bay of Bengal, is located 350 kilometers south of Chennai (Madras) and 12 kilometers south of Nagappatinam. The Church every year receives millions of devotees.