The immediate needs of the State’s railway network and the delay in completing the projects sanctioned in Railway Budgets over the years are to come up at a meeting of the MPs from Kerala convened by Railway Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda in New Delhi on Tuesday.
The completion of the doubling work in the Ernakulam-Kayamkulam sector via Kottayam and Alappuzha figures on top of their priority items.
M.P. Achuthan, MP, told The Hindu on Monday that the MPs had prioritised the needs and that they would take up the needs jointly. “We will not be giving any memorandum to Mr. Gowda,” he added.
Completion of the ongoing electrification of the Ernakulam-Mangalore stretch and in-principle approval for the introduction of automatic signalling system will be taken up.
The automatic signalling system had been mooted for rapid rail transit system from Thiruvananthapuram to Chengannur. The modern system would mooted for the Ernakulam-Coimbatore section.
The MPs have decided to press for steps to improve terminal and coach maintenance facilities.
Development of the Kochuveli terminal, coaching terminals at Nemom and Kottayam, and more pit and stabling lines are among the demands.
They would push forward the proposed coach factory at Kanjikode and a wagon component unit at Cherthala. Gauge conversion of the Palakkad-Pollachi section and Punalur-Shencottah also figures in the list.
More Mainline Electric Multiple Units (MEMU) on the already doubled and electrified Coimbatore-Ernakulam, Shornur-Ernakulam, Guruvayur-Ernakulam, Kayamkulam-Thiruvananthapuram lines will be demanded.
An Intercity Express between Ernakulam and Salem and extension of the Mumbai CST-Mangalore Junction Express to Shoranur and Ernakulam would be taken up.
