The Hindu Business Line : People's protest derails alignment project

Finalisation of rail connectivity to the site for the proposed International Container Transhipment Terminal at Vallarpadam, near Kochi, has run into difficulties as a section of the public is opposed to the proposed rail alignment. Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), the technical consultant to the Southern Railway, has put forward four alternative alignments. The Appellate Committee, entrusted with the job of finalising the alignment, has chosen the second proposal covering 8.86 km as it will affect the least number of people.

`Expensive plan'

However, the residents in the locality concerned, under the banner `Vaduthala Janakeeya Samithy', have come out against the proposal saying that the rail line would pass through the thickly populated Kochi suburbs of Vaduthala and Mulavukad.

The Samithy convenor, Mr P. A. Justine, says the proposed alignment is expensive and will affect people. Residents of some 400 houses in Vaduthala area will have to be evicted. According to him, the first proposal, aligned via the Old Railway Station is most suitable as it will cause less inconvenience to the public.

The Samithy has submitted a memoranda to the Kerala Chief Minister and the Revenue Minister, as also to the Union Ministers of Shipping and Railways seeking their immediate intervention.

The Chief Minister and the Revenue Minister visited the area recently and assured the Samithy of an amicable solution to the issue. The State Government also issued orders to stop survey of land relating to the second proposal till a decision is taken.

Port-users worried

The delay in the finalisation of the rail alignment is worrying shipping circles, as the connectivity issue, relating to both rail and road, is critical for the BOT operator to start the construction of the terminal. If the alignment is changed at this stage, it is pointed out, there would be further delay in starting the work. Moreover, only after the alignment issue is settled, can the environmental clearance for the rail connectivity be obtained. Considering the long process involved, the port users have urged the State Government to take a decision quickly. Last week, RVNL floated the tender to award the contract for the work and 15 companies have responded. The work specification in the tender includes construction of elevated structures, major and minor bridges and earthwork.

`Up to the government'

Asked about the opposition to the proposed rail alignment, senior RVNL officials said that they were yet to receive any communication from the Government suggesting suspension of work. It was up to the Government to decide on the alignment. Whichever alignment was finalised, it would take at least two-and-half years to complete, they said.

Expressing concern over the delay, a top port official said the project must be commissioned by April 2009. The port had no specific preference for any particular alignment. "What we want is least dislocation of people and cost effective implementation," he said.

According to the official, the second alignment was found to be most suitable it would involve minimum work and was therefore the least cost option; the cost is estimated at Rs 245 crore.

Also, the number of families to be displaced would be only 78 and they too would be compensated and/or rehabilitated. The acquisition would be as per the norms laid down for Fast Track projects, he said.

Moreover, in matter of providing employment in the projects associated with the proposed container terminal, preference would be given to the displaced families.

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