CPI(M) Lok Sabha member M.B. Rajesh has alleged that efforts are now on to shift the long-awaited Rs.550-crore rail coach factory at Kanjikode to Sonepat in Haryana and that too with the blessings of BJP national leadership.
Talking to The Hindu , Mr. Rajesh claimed that the Railway Ministry had started preferring Sonepat over Kanjikode in Palakkad ever since Haryana government promised 161.48 acres of land on lease from a local industrial estate.
According to him, officials of the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation had confirmed the lease land for the factory which would attract investment worth Rs.600 crore.
As far as Kanjikode is concerned, the foundation stone for the factory was laid seven years ago on 92.04 hectares of land handed over by the Kerala government. Implementation of the project was delayed so far because the Railways failed to attract private investment for the collaborative venture. On completion, the project was expected to manufacture about 600 rail coaches a year.
‘‘There were indications earlier that the Union government was keen on the Kanjikode facility as it could manufacture light weight aluminum coaches which can help reduce fuel consumption. The Ministry has started showing interest in aluminum coaches after successful trial of Spanish Talgo coaches, made of aluminium. Now the whole project is getting aborted,’’ Mr. Rajesh said.
The coach factory in Kanjikode was announced in the 2008-09 rail budget. But it failed to take wings because of the lukewarm response of private investors.
Mr. Rajesh said the Railways had shown indifference to his earlier proposal to make public sector Steel Authority of India (SAI) a partner of the coach factory project. The company was ready to collaborate with the project, he said.
Meanwhile, railway officials with Palakkad division said they were unaware of the move to shift the factory to Haryana. ‘‘The Ministry has not yet taken any such decision,’’ a senior officer said on condition of anonymity.
