THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state’s ambitious Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS) commonly known as suburban rail service connecting Thiruvananthapuram to Chengannur may not take off on the expected lines.
Railway Minister Devaragunda Venkappa Sadananda Gowda’s priority for a similar suburban railway system for Bengaluru connecting towns and taluks including Chickaballpur, Bangarpet, Mandya and Tumkur, could well, put the state’s project on the back burner. Kerala got its detailed project report (DPR) prepared by Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) in June while Karnataka had completed the study many months ago using the expertise of Rail Indian Technical and Economic Services (RITES).
Cost wise Bengaluru project is estimated at Rs 10,000 crore while the first phase of Kerala project is pegged at Rs 3330 crore. Since the projects have to be implemented using the existing infrastructure of railways, both reports will now be examined by railway board and technical experts. Many here say it is not difficult to guess railway's stand since past experience proved that projects of minister’s home state always got preference over others.
The Bengaluru project is also exploring 50-50 funding from State and Centre. Since railways was not in a position to fund the Kerala project, the state government had already announced that it would look for alternative sources for resource mobilisation.
“We are awaiting railways response on our project report. We will make the changes, if any, required by them. For instance if they ask us to reduce the number of stations from existing 27 we will have to comply with it,'' said a senior officer.
Moreover, augmentation of railway stations, yard modification, raising the level platforms, automatic block signalling system and train protection and warning system, would all require railway’s approval.
