Kochi: The decision taken by the state government on Wednesday to form a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) is to end the railways’ neglect of Kerala and bring in new development projects like the Nilambur-Nanjankode line on a cost-sharing basis.
The state was not getting new projects for the past several years. This even while 17 other state governments had joined hands with the railways by way of MoUs and joint ventures to implement the projects.
“The SPV would act as a direct medium and we’re in the process of identifying the crucial projects,” Power Minister Aryadan Muhammed, in charge of railways, told DC.
A long-pending demand of the state has been installation of automatic signalling system so as to enhance the capacity of the existing lines.
The state government had accorded “in-principle” approval for the introduction of suburban services in Thiruvananthapuram - Chengannur/ Harippad sector. Similarly, it would push for a wagon manufacturing unit at Cherthala and a peninsular zone comprising Thiruvananthapuram, Palakkad and Konkan divisions.
Mr P. Krishna Kumar, general secretary, Thrissur Railway Passengers Association, said, “the state government should identify priority projects by convening a meet with the Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad divisional authorities. It should then present the demands to the railway board well in advance by November so that the same would be included in the next budget,” he said.
The railway divisional authorities, while welcoming the move, laid more stress on existing project proposals like doubling of coastal line via Alappuzha.
“Land acquisition is a major hurdle for realization of the project. We need the state to chip in. Doubling of the 50- km section from Thuravur to Ambalappuz-ha at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore and 78 km from Thiruvananthapuram to Kanyakumari at a cost of Rs 900 crore was shortlisted for executing through the SPV,” sources said.
