KALPETTA: The delay in clearing funds for the preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the long pending Nilambur-Nanjangud railway project is part of a larger conspiracy to promote the Thallassery-Mysore rail link through Mananthavadi, suspect the volunteers and leaders of the Nilgiri-Wayanad Railway and National Highway action council. Though Rs 8 crore was allotted earlier for the project and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) was roped in for preparing a DPR, recently Rs 50 lakh was allotted for the preparatory steps for the Thallassery-Mysore line.
Action council convener T.M. Rasheed told DC that though majority of the members demanded an agitation, the pro-left members of the committee believe that the government will take favourable action. “We are discussing the issues with the LDF leadership and were assured immediate action”, he said, adding that the action council is a popular body beyond party affiliations. “We are ready to wait,” he added.
The finance department had cleared an amount of Rs 50 lakh for the feasibility study of the Thallassery-Mysore railway project the other day while the earlier announced allotment for Rs 2 crore, first instalment of the Rs 8 crore sanctioned for DPR is still awaiting the finance department nod. Though the UDF government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for completion of the more than Rs 3,000 crore work, the process had got delayed due to official apathy.
