Rly Line from Kashmir to Kannya to be fully electrified: Minister

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 7 (UNI) Union Minister of state for Railways R Velu today said the railway line from Kashmir to Kannyakumari will soon be fully electrified.

The electrification work of the Ernakulam to Thiruvananthapuram stretch would be completed by the end of this month, while sanctions for electrification of Thiruvananthapuram to Kannyakumari stretch would be issued in a month's time, he said.

Mr Velu was speaking at a function here after flagging off the Thiruvananthapuram Central to Chennai Central (Weekly) Super Fast Express and Kochuveli to Bangalore City (Weekly) Express and commissioning of touch and feel passenger amenities at the Central Railway Station.

The Railways would open budget hotels at Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam and Kochi in a tie up with private parties. ''The idea is to provide affordable accomodation to rail passengers''.

He said Thiruvananthapuram Central was one of the railway stations selected by the Centre to provide world-class facilities. A sum of Rs 32 crore would be utilised for the development of Kochuveli second Terminal.

In order to cater to the growing passenger traffic, railways would increase the frequency of trains connecting IT-hubs of Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Bangalore.

Meanwhile, Kerala Law Minister M Vijayakumar, who was in charge of railway affairs in the state, said the state government was actively considering a proposal to set up a Railway Development Corporation for giving all assistance to the railways for speedy completion of infrastructure projects.

He said Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan would convene a high-level meeting here on November 11 to discuss various issues relating to the development of railways in Kerala.

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