No dearth of funds for development of railway projects in Kerala: Vaishnaw

The Railway Ministry is now conducting a feasibility study and final location survey of the two alignments proposed for the Sabari railway line, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said on Wednesday.

Addressing the media via a video conference from New Delhi, Vaishnaw said the Union Budget has allocated Rs 3,011 crore for ongoing Railway projects in Kerala, which, according to him, is eight times more than what was allocated during the UPA regime.

He said with regard to the Sabari railway line, the alignment between Angamaly and Erumeli and the second alignment from Chengannur to Pamba are being studied, and the line that is more feasible will be selected.

“There will not be any dearth of funds for the development of railway projects in Kerala. I request the state government’s cooperation in acquiring land for the completion of the projects. We need 459 hectares of land for the track expansion works,” Vaishnav said.

The minister said the DPR for the tunnel railway connection between Vizhinjam Port and Balaramapuram railway station is also being considered, and final approval will be given.

In order to solve the high demand for general coaches, the minister said 2,500 new general coaches are being made available this year, and 10,000 more such coaches will be made available across the country in the next two to three years.

The minister said no new trains or new projects have been proposed in the Budget, but fund allocation has been improved.