The Kerala Rail Development Corporation Ltd., a joint venture formed in a 51:49 partnership between the Government of Kerala and the Indian Railways, will soon submit detailed study reports to the Centre on rail projects in Kerala.
The company is looking into the implementation of seven projects, including the suburban train services between Thiruvananthapuram and Chengannur. A per the priority report that was passed in the Board meeting, the company will be submitting recommendations for the Rs.3000 crore suburban trains in the first phase.
The Cochin Airport Link rail, renovation of the old Kochi railway station and the Thalassery-Kannur airport-Mysore rail link will be included in the first phase. In the second phase the Erumeli- Punalur route, the Ettumanoor- Pala- Sabari Link route and the Nilambur- Nanjangud route will be set up. Of this the feasibility studies of the suburban trains have been completed and will soon be submitted to the Centre on the direction of the Prime Minister.
Similar companies have been formed in nine states, to expedite and streamline the railway development in the states. The new company will finance the new project costs in the state at 26% from the Kerala Rail Development Corporation Ltd. and the rest from international agencies or financial consortiums.
The corporation has also exhibited immense professionalism in bringing up a proposal within just one-and-a-half months since its formation in January, 2017. It is expected that the PM would include the project in the declarations he will be making in March. The ambitious rail development project will also need inter-state coordination with Karnataka in the case of Thalassery- Mysuru and Nilambur- Nanjangud tracks.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests will also have to be brought-on-board as the proposed rail lines pass through forest stretches.
