Chidambaram, Indian Railways is set to earn Rs 2,000 crore this fiscal, Union Minister of State for Railways R Velu said here today.

The railways has set a target of carrying 726 million tonnes of goods this year, he said while inaugurating a computerised unreserved ticketing system at Vridhachalam in Cuddalore district.

There will also be qualitative development of 334 railway stations across the country, he said.

The four metros and 19 cities will have their railway stations improved to world-class standards with underground super markets like those in Russia and England, Velu said.

In Tamil Nadu, the electrification, broad-gauge conversion and doubling of the Villupuram-Tuticorin route will be done at an estimated cost of Rs 2,700 crore.

The broad-gauge conversion work on the Saleem- Vridhachalam route will be completed soon. Trains will run on the route from March next year, he said.

The doubling of the Chennai-Villupuram route and broad-gauge conversion of the Tindivanam-Thiruvannamalai and Tindivanam-Nagiri routes will be implemented at a cost of Rs 827 crore this year.

Velu said orders had been issued to set up a new Salem railway division and a Cuddalore Junction-port track will be set up soon at a cost of Rs two crore.