Question : ELECTRIFICATION OF RAILWAY LINE

(a) whether the Railways have any proposal to electrify Kanyakumari-Thiruvananthapuram railway line;

(a) if so, the details thereof and the amount earmarked for the same and the time by which the electrification would be taken up and the expected time of completion;

(c) whether the freight traffic in Southern Railway is less in comparison with other Zones;

(d) if so, the reasons therefor;

(e) whether the Railways have taken any steps to augment the freight traffic in the region and to give a tough competition to roadways and to make the procedures of booking etc. hassle free; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI R. VELU)

(a) & (b) Yes, Sir. The final decision to electrify Kanyakumari to Thiruvananthapuram section will be taken after appraisal of the proposal.

(c) & (d) Freight and other performance of the various zonal Railways are not comparable with each other. Freight loading of a particular Railway mainly depends on the availability of rail-borne traffic, proximity to industries and strategic and social needs. The quantum of freight traffic handled by Southern Railway in 2005-06 was more than several other zonal Railways.

(e) & (f) There are no region specific schemes to augment freight traffic.