Chances of the ambitious coaching terminal at Nemom along the 86.56-km Thiruvananthapuram Central-Kanyakumari railway line turning a reality has brightened with Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani stating on Friday that the board is processing the ₹67-crore proposal.
“It is under process. We will look into sanctioning it,” Mr. Lohani said, addressing a press conference here after discussing the cost-sharing projects to be taken up and the ongoing projects with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
The division has submitted the proposal to Southern Railway for inclusion in the Works Programme 2018-19. Railways own 12.14 hectares of land adjacent to the Nemom railway station and the move is to have five stabling lines in the first phase.
Mr. Lohani said the coaching terminal and completion of doubling works up to Ernakulam would enable Railways to bring more mail and express trains to the State capital. “Our stand had been appreciated by the State and we have been assured that land acquisition will be expedited,” he said.
The Railway Board Chairman said the State had also asked for connectivity from the Thiruvananthapuram-Kanyakumari rail line to the Vizhinjam Internatioanl Deepwater seaport; bio-toilets on Kerala-bound trains; more pit lines; and rain harvesting facilities on vacant plots under Railways.
Kerala Rail Development Corporation Ltd. (KRDCL), the joint venture between the State and Railways for executing viable rail projects on a 51:49 cost-sharing basis, could take forward a lot of projects, Mr. Lohani said, adding that the State had been asked to submit Detailed Project Reports (DPR) for them.
Southern Railway General Manager Sudhanshu Mani said the State wanted to divert road traffic to rail by making it efficient and commuter-friendly, in view of the increasing road accidents. Mr. Mani said that Railways informed the Chief Minister of the limitations such as saturated terminals and a lack of paths.
‘Not feasible’
Replying to questions, the Chairman hinted that the rapid rail transit system along the 125.65-km Thiruvananthapuram Central- Chengannur corridor would not take off as the automatic signalling was not feasible on the existing line meant for long-distance trains and in view of the saturated railway line.
At the meeting, he said many thoughts were exchanged on the third and fourth railway lines mooted by KRDCL along the 574-km Thiruvananthapuram Central-Kasaragod corridor. “Let them look into the details and various options for the north-south corridor. If the DPR is feasible, we will extend support and include it in Budget,” he said.
On the reported move to carve out 160 km from the Thiruvananthapuram railway division based at the State capital and to hand it over to the adjoining Madurai division, Mr. Lohani said it was only a rumour based on comment sought by the board on demand by passenger associations and there was no substance to it.
