Thiruvananthapuram: The Government has convened a meeting of Members of Parliament from the State and railway officials on November 11 in the capital to discuss the various issues facing the development of railway network in the State.

This was disclosed by Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs M. Vijayakumar while presiding over the function organised at the Central Station on Tuesday to flag-off newly sanctioned trains to Chennai Central and Bangalore City. Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan would chair the meeting to be held at the Guest House at 3 p.m.

The Minister said a proposal to set up Railway Development Corporation as in other States to expedite the railway projects in Kerala is under the active consideration of the Government.

Mr. Vijayakumar urged Union Minister of State for Railways R.Velu who flagged-off the trains, to start Computerised Reservation Centres in all taluk and district headquarters. He also asked the Union Minister to take up doubling of Thiruvananthapuram-Nagercoil stretch.

CPI leader Panniyan Ravindran, MP, in his address demanded that Kochuveli railway terminal, which is being developed at a cost of Rs. 22 crore, should be renamed as Travancore terminal.

He also demanded that a new railway zone be set up with its headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram by including Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkkad railway divisions and Konkan Railway.

Mr. Ravindran said the Railways should set up a maintenance workshop at Nemom in the land owned by the Railways and an electric Coach repairing unit at Kochuveli. This would reduce the cost now being incurred for sending coaches to Chennai for maintenance and overhaul.

Thomas Varghese, General Manager of Southern Railway, said the Railways have decided to extend the security cover to more stations.

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