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Our Bureau

Kochi , Aug. 24

GIVEN the importance of the proposed international container transhipment terminal at Vallarpadam island, Southern Railway is giving top priority to the new rail alignment from Edappally to Vallarpadam, Mr Thomas Varghese, General Manager, Southern Railway said.

The Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) is currently studying the new alignment and the report is in the final stages. The rail connectivity, expected to be completed within two years, would receive top priority as it would be a major container freight destination for railways, he said at a press meet here on Wednesday.

Mr Varghese also said that work would be expedited on a new bridge to replace the 75-year-old British-built Venduruthy rail bridge, connecting Cochin Port Trust to the mainland. The Rs 25-crore project would be completed by December 2007, he said. The existing bridge was damaged after a dredger collided with it last year. This had affected railway cargo movement to and from the port, he added.

Southern Railway has sanctioned Rs 19 crore for work related to safety aspects, including track improvement, signalling etc. It also plans to introduce anti-collision device in the region and trials were on along the busy Chennai-Kochi division. Interlocking unmanned level crossings with the nearest station and automatic warning system for approaching trains are the other planned measures. The system would be introduced first in Chennai, he added.

Regarding the Angamally-Sabarimala rail route, Mr Varghese said the Ministry had already approved the Rs 550-crore project.

However, due to stiff public opposition to land acquisition, the work would be resumed after completion of the doubling works in the rail lines at a cost of Rs 5 crore.

Likewise, there was opposition to land acquisition for the Guruvayur-Kuttippuram rail route too, he added.

The Railways planned to recruit retired hands as engine drivers, owing to a shortage of drivers, he said. However, taking safety aspects into consideration, a final decision was awaited.

Southern Railway spent Rs 4.08 crore in 2004-05 in the Thiruvananthapuram division to provide passenger amenities.

A Rs 12-crore master plan for the Ernakulam Junction and Town stations was ready and the proposals included a model station building, new foot over-bridge, multi-purpose enquiry system, coach information system, water supply scheme etc. There were plans to build additional platform area at both stations at a cost of Rs 10 crore, he added.

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