The Hindu Business Line : Antony seeks special railway zone for Kerala

KERALA has sought creation of a special railway zone for the State and wants an announcement to this effect to be made in the Railway Budget for 2004-05.

In a letter to the Union Railway Minister, Mr Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister, Mr A.K. Antony, has pointed out that the Ministry had sanctioned only Rs 15 crore in the last budget for three projects in the State with a total outlay of Rs 867 crore. In the coming budget, an amount of at least Rs 100 crore should be sanctioned for the projects, the Chief Minister has said.

He has also sought allocation of another Rs 100 crore for gauge conversion of the Kollam-Virudhunagar railway line. Though the project is estimated to cost Rs 376 crore, the Ministry had sanctioned only Rs 25 crore for the current year.

It has been pointed out that a slew of projects in the State envisaging doubling of lines could not be completed for want of funds. In the current year, an amount of Rs 63.51 crore has been sanctioned for these projects, whereas they require Rs 169 crore more for their completion.

In the circumstances, the State has requested the Ministry for allocation of Rs 150 crore for these projects in the coming budget.

Besides, Rs 10 crore has been sought for the establishment of a railway station near the Kochi international airport at Nedumbassery. Another demand in the list is for sanctioning of Rs 100 crore in the budget for the renovation of rail bridges that are 50-100 years old.

In another letter to the Centre, the Chief Minister has sought two lakh tonnes of rice under the food-for-work programme. This is in the context of the State declaring seven districts in full and some areas in the remaining seven districts as drought-hit.

The State Government is planning to extend assistance to workers in the traditional industries, agriculture and fishing sectors and those coming under the scheduled castes and tribes categories who have been severely affected by the drought.