Kick-starting the rail coach factory at Kanjikode, gauge conversion of the Palakkad Town-Pollachi sector, turning Kozhikode railway station into a world class one and doubling of the Mangalore Junction-Tumkur stretch figure in the priority list of Palakkad Railway Division for the forthcoming Union Railway Budget.
Divisional authorities and the State are hoping that Railway Minister D.V. D.V. Sadananda Gowda’s maiden budget will give the much-needed push for the Rs.550-crore coach factory sanctioned in 2008-09 for making Linke Holfmann Busch (LHB)-design stainless steel and state-of-the-art aluminium coaches.
PPP partnerThe delay in identifying a partner for the public-private partnership had slowed the project when the rail wheel plant at Chhapra, coach factory at Rae Bareli, and the diesel component factory at Dankuni sanctioned along with it had already commenced production.
The inability to push the project forward has cost the State dearly and the development of the railway network, official sources told The Hindu . The authorities are hoping that the division is not bifurcated again.
Railways had been able to complete only 70 per cent construction of the boundary wall around the 92.04 hectares handed over by the State. The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests was yet to de-notify the 36 hectares of forestland sought, sources said.
The elevation of Kozhikode station into world class one along with Mangalore station is expected to get more allocation. The preliminary consultancy report of Kitco is pending with the Railway Board, sources said.
ElectrificationThe electrification of the Shoranur-Mangalore section is scheduled for completion by 2015. Non-availability of sand and earth has stalled the construction of the Elathur Traction sub-station that will act as a back up when there is a power shutdown at the Shoranur end.
More pit lines have been proposed in Kannur to take care of more long-distance trains.
A sum of Rs.127 crore had been sought for the doubling of Mangalore Junction-Tumkur section.
Another Rs.20 crore is needed for the gauge conversion of Palakkad Town-Pollachi stretch by December and this will give the last mile connectivity.
