The Hindu Business Line : Railways thumbs up for wagon unit at Autokast

The Union Railways Ministry has agreed to float a joint venture with the Kerala Government to establish a wagon manufacturing line at the State-owned Autokast Ltd in Cherthala, Alappuzha district.

The Minister for Law and Ports, Mr M. Vijayakumar, who also coordinates with the Centre on railway infrastructure in the State, said here on Wednesday that this emerged during discussions the Chief Minister, Mr V. S. Achuthanandan, had with the Railways Minister, Mr Lalu Prasad, in New Delhi on January 14.

The Railways will also start a fully air-conditioned train service, styled `Garibhi Rath', between Thiruvananthapuram and New Delhi, he said.

Mr Vijayakumar said the Railways had appointed a consultant to work out the details of the wagon unit and it would submit the report within three months. The Railways Minister had agreed to make the necessary allocation for the project in the next Railway budget.

Overhauling workshop

The Government had also sought to establish a periodical overhauling workshop in the State for taking up repair works on railway coaches.

Mr Vijayakumar said that every year, around 1,600 coaches operating in the State needed maintenance. As of now, 135 coaches were being sent to Chennai every month for maintenance and the Railways could save on this expenditure with a workshop.

The State Government also proposed setting up two EMU car-sheds at Palakkad and Kollam. While the Railways had already approved the Palakkad facility, it had given in-principle clearance to the Kollam proposal.

The Minister said that the Railways had agreed to make budgetary allocation for doubling the remaining 27 km of track between Shornur and Mangalore. The Government also suggested the doubling of track between Ernakulam and Kayamkulam, both via Alappuzha and Kottayam.