Railways have put forward a proposal to the State government to set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for executing projects in the State on a cost-sharing basis.
Doubling of the 50 km from Turavur to Ambalappuzha at a cost of Rs.1,000 crore and 78 km from Thiruvananthapuram to Kanyakumari at a cost of Rs.900 crore has been shortlisted for executing through the SPV. With this, the cash-strapped Railways have hinted that the projects will not be solely based on the rail budget allocation.
The State has responded positively to the SPV and on the need of the government and Railways working together for improving the rail infrastructure, General Manager, Southern Railway, Ashok K. Agarwal told mediapersons here on Friday.
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Mr. Agarwal put forward the proposal to the State when he called on Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson here.
RRTS
On a query whether the 125.65-km Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS) mooted by the State between Thiruvananthapuram and Chengannur for short-distance commuters will be executed by the SPV, Mr. Agarwal said it was for the State to decide as massive investment was needed for the RRTS. It had to be looked into whether an RRTS or a suburban service was needed. “It will be need-based and Railways and the State have to work together,” Mr. Agarwal added.
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He said the doubling of the 39-km stretch from Piravom Road to Kuruppanthura (12 km) and Chengannur to Chingavanam would be completed this financial year.
The work on the 27 km from Kuruppanthura to Chingavanam would be over the next financial year, completing the doubling works up to Kottayam. This would enable Railways to increase the speed of trains and introduce more mail and express trains, he said.
To implement projects on a
cost-sharing basis with the State.