Seven new trains, coach factory, drinking water plant for Kerala

By O.J.George

New Delhi: Mamata Banerjee presented her second railway budget without enhancing freight and passenger fares. Kerala will have four new Express trains, one Memu service, and two passenger trains.

Kanchikode coach factory has been cleared and a commitment was made that this would be set up this year.

The long-standing demand of a peninsular zone was not accepted. Kerala was not included in the southern freight corridor linking Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai either.

Mumbai- Ernakulam Duronto, Kanyakumari-Bhopal Bharat Theerth special, Pune-Ernakulam super fast, Kozhikode-Thiruvananthapuram Jana Shatabdi Express are the long distance trains allowed.Memu service is between Kollam and Ernakulam.

Passenger trains are between Kozhikode and Kannur, and Nilambur and Shoranur.Mangalore-Kannur passenger has been extended to Kozhikode.

Thiruvananthapuram-Ernakulam inter-city has been extended to Guruvayur.Kochuveli-Yashwantpur has been extended to Hubli.

Survey would be held for six new lines. These are Kozhikode-Malappuram-Angadippuram, Dindigul-Kumali, Madurai-Kottayam, Punalur-Thiruvananthapuram, Chengannur-Thiruvananthapuram via Adur, and Thalasserry-Mysore are the routes for new survey.
A drinking water plant would be set up at Thiruvananthapuram.Railways will not be privatized. Social commitment would be the priority.