(a) whether Government of Kerala has emphasized the rail transport needs of the State with the Union Government with specific reference to the new projects/facilities, ongoing works and Railway Safety Fund etc.;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the action taken by the Union Government thereon? ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS ( SHRI BANDARU DATTATRAYA )
(a) to (c) : A memorandum was submitted by the Chief Minister
of Kerala to the Ministry of Railways in December, 2001 in
respect of projects/works in Kerala. Demands contained in the memorandum and action taken
on them are at Appendix.
APPENDIX
APPENDIX REFFERED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2774 FOR 01.08.2002
POSITION OF POINTS RAISED IN THE MEMORANDUM PRESENTED BY CHIEF
MINISTER, KERALA TO MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS IN DECEMBER, 2001
S. Projects / Works Action Taken No.
New Railway Lines
1. Angamali-Sabarimala The work is already included in the Budget. Final location survey is in progress. An outlay of Rs.10 crore has been provided for the work during 2002-03.
2. Kottayam-Erumeli The work has already been included in the Budget and necessary clearances have been obtained. Final location survey and detailed planning has been taken up. An outlay of Rs.0.01 crore has been provided for the work during 2002-03.
3. Kuttipuram- The work is already included in the Guruvayoor Budget and will be taken up after obtaining necessary clearances for which action has been initiated.
Doubling of Railway Lines
1. At least Rs. 150 Doubling of single line is taken up crores for doubling when the carrying capacity of the line of Mulanturutti- is saturated, keeping in view the Kayankulam(via traffic requirement. The doubling of Kottayam) railway Ernakulam-Mulanturutti has been taken line during 2002-03 up as phase-I of doubling of Ernakulam-Kayankulam. The work is in progress and an outlay of Rs.3.68 crore has been provided during 2002-03. The doubling of remaining section may be considered in future as and when the need arises.
2. Doubling of The doubling is not considered Ernakulam- necessary at present from traffic point Kayankulam (via of view. Alapuzha)
New Railway Stations/facilities
1. New Railway Station A new Railway station at Nedumbasseri at Nedumbassery near Cochin is not considered necessary at this stage.
2. Satellite Railway The work of 2nd Coaching Terminal at Station at Kochuveli has been included in the Trivandrum - Rs. 10 Budget 2002-03. crores for 2002-03
Other Projects
1. Crossing station at The crossing station is not considered Mavelikkara- justified. Chengannur - 5 crore
2. Crossing station at Parsala included in the budget 2002-03 Parasala-Nemom but Nemom was not considered justified from traffic point of view.
Adequate Funding for Ongoing Works
1. Early completion of On Mangalore-Shoranur section, out of ongoing doubling 307 km, doubling of 161 km has already works: (Rs.125 been completed. 50 km is targeted for crores) 2002-03 and balance for 2003-04. Mangalore-Shoranur Regarding Ernakulam-kayankulam remarks line (committed have already been given at point no.2 target dated 31-03- of Doubling plan head. 2003) Ernakulam- Kayankulam (via- Kottayam) (Rs.50 crores)
Electrification (30 Crores)
1. Ernakulam- The work is in progress. Trivandrum BG line, by 31-03-2004
Gauge Conversion (10 Crores)
1. Quilon-Shenkottai- The work is in progress. Final Virudunagar (357 location survey in the ghat section has km) been completed. Earthwork and bridges have been taken up on Tenkasi- Virudunagar and Tirunelveli-Tiruchchendur section. An outlay of Rs.25 crore has been provided for this work during 2002-03.
New Trains
1. The weekly Examined, but not found feasible due to Thiruwanthapuram- operational and resource constraints. Mangalore- Thiruwanthapuram Express via Alappuzha may be converted as daily.
2 A new daily train Examined, but not found feasible due to may be introduced operational and resource constraints. in the sector Mumbai-Kozhikode.
3 Electric Trains on Examined, but not found feasible due to Thrissur-Ernakulam operational and resource constraints. sector.