Sabari rail link to be speeded up

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 12: Kerala Revenue Minister K P Rajendran told the State Assembly today that land acquisition for the proposed Angamali-Sabarimala railway line would be speeded up with the cooperation of elcted representatives of the people.

Replying to a submission by Mr Babu Paul(CPI-M), he said the Railways had sanctioned Rs 3.55 crore towards land acquisition two years ago.

Special tahsildar offices had been opened for land acquisition for the project, he said and sought cooperation of the elected representatives of the people to speed up the process.

Replying to another submission by Prof C Ravindranath (CPI-M), Home and Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the Athirappilly waterfall near Chalakkudy in Thrissur district would be developed into a major tourist centre at a cost of Rs five crore.

The Centre had agreed to sanction Rs 3.5 crore towards the project.

Another tourism project linking Chimony and Peechi dams in Thrissur district would also be implemented for which a scheme was being drafted.

Education Minister M A Baby told Mr K Babu (Cong) that the Cochin University of Science and Technology would be upgraded to the level of an IIT or a Central University.

UNI