Kerala may get one more train

New Delhi, Mar 3 (UNI) Railway Minister Lalu Prasad today assured the Lok Sabha that he would consider favourably the demand for a new superfast train connecting Bangalore and Thiruvananthapuram.

The train, linking the capitals of Karnataka and Kerala, has been the demand of the MPs from Kerala, who met the minister the other day to protest against the ''raw deal'' meted out to the state in the Railway Budget for 2006-07.

''It is a genuine demand,'' Mr Prasad said while replying to the discussion on the demands for grants on account (Railways) for 2006-07.

He said the demand of the MPs for a new Bangalore- Thiruvananthapuram train and other demands relating to doubling of important routes and gauge conversion would be favourably looked into.

In his budget speech, Mr Prasad announced two new trains to Kerala, both originating from Chennai.

Mr Prasad told the MPs from West Bengal, who staged a demonstration in the Lok Sabha during the budget speech of Mr Lalu on the issue of freight corridor, that ''all requisite will be done'' with regard to their demand for extension of the corridor into their state.

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