The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Kerala to press Centre for more rail coaches: Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 24, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Kerala to press Centre for more rail coaches: Minister

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State government would draw the attention of the Prime Minister and the Railway Minister to the acute shortage of railway coaches in the State, Minister in charge of Railways in the State government M.Vijayakumar told the Assembly on Wednesday.

Replying to a submission by Ramachandran Kadannappally (Congress-S), the Minister said he had himself taken up the matter with the Centre on several occasions and had succeeded in getting coaches restored in some of the trains.

Passengers

However, given the sharp increase in train passengers in the State, more coaches would have to be found urgently, he said.

Mr. Vijayakumar told P. Krishnaprasad (CPI-M) that the State government would exert pressure on the Centre to expedite work on the Nanjegode-Nilambur and Thalassery-Mysore railway lines.

Survey

The State government had succeeded in getting both the proposals, for which survey had been completed long ago, included in the 2007-’08 railway budget.

However, further clearances for taking up work on the two lines were awaited.

Memorial

The Minister, replying on behalf of Culture Minister M.A. Baby, told A. Pradeep Kumar (CPI-M) that a fitting memorial for the late playwright K.T. Mohammed would be established in Kozhikode in consultation with the elected representatives and local body representatives.

Public Works Minister Mons Joseph told V.J. Thankappan (CPI-M) that the State government would soon convene a meeting of elected representatives from the southern parts of the district on how to go about widening the Karamana-Kaliyickavila stretch of National Highway 47.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala