Kerala readies list for rail budget

List to be presented at MPs’ meeting on Wednesday.

The State has prepared a list of new projects, trains, and funds to be submitted for consideration for the 2015-16 Railway Budget.

The list will be presented for discussion at a meeting of the Members of Parliament from the State convened by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy here on Wednesday.

The list of projects made available to The Hindu shows 22 heads. Apart from them, the government has included memorandums on various projects received from four MPs.

The rail coach factory at Kanjikode, announced in 2008-09, tops the list. The State has demanded a decision on the joint venture partner and steps to kick off the factory as promised to the MPs from the State in August.

For completion of doubling, gauge conversion, pit line and the new Sabari railway line, a sum of Rs.339 crore has been sought additionally as only Rs.172.5 crore was sanctioned in the last budget. To complete these projects, Rs.550 crore is needed.

The wagon manufacturing unit at Cherthala, announced in 2011-12, and the peninsular railway zone are listed third and fourth.

Medical college

Replacing old coaches, setting up coach depots at Nemom and Kottayam for periodic overhauling and repair of coaches, and a Railway Medical College and diagnostic centre in the capital too find mention.

New lines to link the Kannur and Kochi airports, Nilambur-Nanjangud, Guruvayur-Thirunavaya and another 12 lines have been sought along with pit lines and goods sheds.

The State has sought approval for construction of all sanctioned rail overbridges and has demanded that Railways meet the entire cost of land acquisition for the work.

Upgrade of stations

Steps to commence upgrade of the Thiruvananthapuram Central, Ernakulam and Kozhikode stations, provisions for a high-speed rail corridor, automatic signalling, and suburban rail services figure on the list.

Meanwhile, Railways are to convene a meeting of the MPs later this week. General Manager of Southern Railway Rakesh Mishra and Divisional Railway Managers of Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad Sunil Bajpai and Anand Prakash are to attend.