The chairman directed that a design for the Thalassery-Mysuru line via Mananthavadi be submitted before December 31: File photoThiruvananthapuram: The railway board has cleared development plans in Kerala. An in principle agreement has been reached in a discussion between chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and railway board chairman Ashwani Lohani on the projects floated by the Kerala Rail Development Corporation, a joint endeavor of the state and the central rail body.
The chairman has ordered a survey for a new double line parallel to the existing one between Thiruvananthapuram and Kasargod.
The chairman directed that a design for the Thalassery-Mysuru line via Mananthavadi be submitted before December 31.
The 247 kilometer line is estimated to cost Rs 3,209 crore. The present distance from Thalassery to Mysuru is 810 kilometers. The new line will reduce it by 540 kilometers and save 12 hours of journey.
The Erumeli-Punalur line and the Ettumanur-Pala link line, which would involve Rs 1,600 crore, will be considered.
The Balaramapuram-Vizhinjam sea port line, a new 10 kilometer line to the Kochi International Airport and a railway terminus are new projects Kerala has proposed.
Plans will be drawn up for the expansion of railway stations at Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Varkala.
Kochuveli needs land; no chance for Palakkad factory
Lohani assured Pinarayi that Kochuveli terminal will be completed by March 2019 if land is provided. He promised the chief minister that Nemam terminal plan will also be implemented.
Bio toilets will be introduced in all trains running in Kerala, as per Pinarayi's suggestion.
Kerala rail lines will turn into a green corridor. Rain water storage will be set up in land owned by the railways in the state.
Lohani pointed out that there are technical difficulties about running super fast trains as Kerala wants, but assured that semi-speed trains can be considered.
The government said the rail development corporation has charted a plan for a new double line parallel to the 125-kilometer Thiruvananthapuram-Chengannur line.
Its estimate is Rs 1,943 crore and can be extended to Kasaragod at a cost of Rs 16,600 crore.
The government said the Thalassery-Mysuru line via Mananthavady can be completed by 2024 if the railway board clears it.
The chairman reportedly did not give a clear reply when the Palakkad railway coach factory proposal was raised. The chief minister pointed out that the project was still uncertain though 239 acres of land has been acquired and handed over by the government.
Lohani's answer was that a decision can be taken only after reviewing the overall situation in the country. Pinarayi said the Railways should bear the cost of the Sabari project that was approved earlier.
Kerala will share half of the expenses of the new projects. He asked for funds to swiftly complete the Angamaly-Sabari, Guruvayur-Thirunnavaya and Ernakulam-Ambalapuzha line doubling.
Public works minister G. Sudhakaran, chief secretary K.M. Abraham and senior officials also attended the discussions.
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