Kerala moots hi-tech signals to facilitate Rapid Rail Transit System
Suburban trains can run during peak hours on existing tracks.
Kochi: In its attempt to break deadlock over the Rs 3063-crore Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS), the state government has submitted before the railways the "solution" of installing ultra-modern, computer-based signaling system in 126-km long Thiruvananthapuram-Chengannur corridor for realization of the suburban railway project. The project was so far put on the backburner after the railways insisted on setting up a third rail exclusively for running suburban trains while the state government wanted to operate it using the existing infrastructure. A series of meeting held between the two parties failed to iron out the difference, forcing the state to come out with the plan.
"We've conveyed to the railways the solution of setting up ultra-modern, computer-based signaling system which will facilitate movement of double the capacity of the current traffic. We've already taken expert opinion of personalities such as 'Metroman' E Sreedharan on the issue and a formal letter will be sent to the railway authorities in the next few days," said Chief Secretary S M Vijayanand. The railways itself installed the modern signaling system in the Ghaziabad-Kanpur section last year. Another advantage of the ultra-modern centralised traffic system is that it will require presence of only one station master instead of two cabin masters, thereby saving manpower resources.
The railways, from the start, insisted on an additional line saying it would take care of the new signaling system. "The benefit of the sub-urban services is when it's operated during peak hours. Already the lines are saturated and the existing infrastructure cannot support operation of sub-urban trains," said Divisional Railway Manager Prakash Bhutani.However, the state raised the high cost factor citing the construction of bridges, RoBs and land acquisition at several stretches.
The suburban railways is among the prioritised projects to be taken up on cost-sharing basis between the State and Railways for which a joint venture company, Kerala Rail Development Corporation Ltd was set up.