FOCUS WILL BE ON RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE

As The Railway Budget Draws Near, Kerala Seeks Central Approval To Complete A Host Of Long-Pending Projects Shyam P V | TNN Since the rail budget of this year is likely to be UPA government’s last before the 2014 polls, the state government will urge the Centre and railways to approve the yet-to-be started and delayed projects that were declared for the state during the past years. Sources in the transport ministry said UPA will take a holistic approach while preparing this year’s budget, giving priority to on-going projects. “While preparing proposals, we will focus more on delayed projects this year. It is the only way to ensure that the state benefits from the political situation at the Centre,” he said. The state’s wish list includes projects that were approvedin the past namely - railway coach/wagon factories at Palakkad and Cherthala,117-km Angamaly-Sabari rail link, doubling of Haripad-Ambalappuzha and Chengannur-Thiruvalla stretches, electrification of Shoranur-Kannur line and gauge conversion of Punalur-Chenkotta and Pollachi-Palakkad stretches. It also includes completion of automatic signalling system, automatic block signal system and more Memu services. Attingal MP A Sampath said the state is not keen on demanding new projects. “Railways has already announced many futuristic projects for the state over the past few years. Our request is to start them one by one. We would be happy if they approve more Memu services, peninsular railway zone, drinking water project and a railway medical college at Thiruvananthapuram. We would like to see more manned railway crossings and safety measures for women passengers,” he said. Meanwhile, an MP from the Congress, on condition of anonymity, admitted that Kerala is always behind schedule in preparing proposals. “The main reason is lack of optimism. We are actually at the mercy of railway bureaucrats. A lobby among bureaucrats decide everything in the department. The medical college project was put on hold citing inadequate land plot since a minimum of 10 acres is required. Railways has over 50 acres of unused land at Kadakkavoor. The college and drinking water project can be set up there as area is not thickly populated. The place, used as watering station by the British, has abundant groundwater. However, the railway authorities are not taking any proactive steps,” said the MP. Passengers are of the opinion that the state should focus on infrastructure and amenities rather than pursuing division bifurcation and coach factories. Associations, including Divisional Railway Users' Consultative Committee and Thrissur Railway Passengers Association, have sent requests to the Centre, Railways and state to introduce automatic signalling system and lay two additional tracks exclusively for the suburban service from Mangalore to Nagercoil. (Times of India dt 22-1-2013)