Thiruvananthapuram – The Cabinet has given its acceptance for implementing the Suburban Rail Corridor project in the Thiruvananthapuram-Harippad and Thiruvananthapuram-Chengannur routes which will have equal stakes for the state government and the Railways. Said,the Chief Minister Oomen Chandy.
Minister told this while addressing a post-Cabinet press meet. He said the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) has been asked to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) for the project and they will be allotted Rs.10.99 crore. Chief Minister further said that the completed report is expected to receive within three months. The Railway and State Government 50-50 stake project is estimated to cost Rs 3,500 crore and the state government was also expecting World Bank Assistance.
The Cabinet also set up a joint steering committee which comprises of five members to follow and check the detail of the Sub Urban project.
The service will be done by 10 MEMUs with seven bogies. The main attraction was that the project entailed no land acquisition as the existing tracks are being used. The proposal envisaged the setting up of automated signal system, modification of 25 railway stations. He also said that the 83 level-crossings on the route would be a major challenge.