RAILWAY SAMACHAR

Kerala to begin suburban train

services in Malabar region

Thiruvananthapuram : Monday, Mar 2 2009,

Kerala Sports and Youth Affairs Minister M Vijayakumar told the state Assembly today that the government was seriously considering to begin suburban trains for the rail development of the Malabar region. Replying to questions by Ms K K Shylaja Teacher (CPI-M) and others,he said the governmet had already received a feasibility report fromthe Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for the proposed suburban train service connecting the stations between Kochi and Kannur. The government was going through the report and hope that the project would be materialised soon, he said, adding, it would be implemented jointly by the state government and the Metro Rail Corporation.

Alleging that the Railway Budget had neglected the state, Mr Vijaya kumar, who is also holding the portfolio of Railways, said the government would constitute a Railway Development Corporation, with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Chairman as its advisor, for the overall rail development of the state. The government would also welcome private investors as the partners in the corporation. Stating that the allotment of railways would be based on population, he said the state had received only one per cent against the four percent required for the development of the railways in the state.

Suggesting that a Peninsular Zone was required for the basic development of the railways in the state, the Minister said now the development would end at Chennai and there was no place for thestate. The situation should be changed and the state should get itsdue consideration, he added. Mr Vijayakumar expressed the hope that the Kochi Metro Rail would be materialised soon as the Prime Minister Manmoahan Singh had given an assurance in this regard, though the Planning Commission had put a negative statement on the project.