THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A high-level team from Indian Railways will visit Kerala next week to study the feasibility of setting up a wagon factory in the State.

According to a senior Government official, the proposal is to have this project as a joint venture involving the Indian Railways and the State Government. Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan had mooted this proposal to Union Minister for Railways Lalu Prasad during their meeting in New Delhi on September 25.

Mr. Achuthanandan had called on Mr. Prasad to represent the case of rail development in the State. On the proposal for the wagon factory, the Union Minister is said to have responded by saying that the Railways required additional wagon manufacturing facilities because of its growth in recent times.

The Chief Minister, in his proposal, said that the State Government could provide the land required for the project by way of equity participation. Land was readily available. The Chief Minister plans to discuss at the political level and in the Cabinet the specifics of the State's participation in the joint venture.

He has convened a meeting of officials of various departments next Tuesday to prepare the discussion points when the Railways team reaches here.

Job potential

The proposed joint venture, involving the investment of hundreds of crores of rupees, will have considerable employment potential both directly and indirectly.

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