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The value of land made available free-of-cost to set up a long-pending rail coach factory in Palakkad would be treated as the State Government equity if and when it gets converted into a joint venture project.
Modalities in this regard would be worked out between the Railways and the State Government, according to a visiting Mr Dinesh Trivedi, Union Railways Minister.
PUBLIC SECTOR
The State Government, would, however, like to see the project, foundation stone for which would be laid on October 22, to come up in the public sector.
This was made clear during discussions a central team, lead by the Union Minister had with the Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, and representatives of the State Government.
Mr Trivedi told newspersons that consultants RITES has been asked to look into the product-mix for the proposed coach and wagon component factory at Cherthala in Alappuzha district.
The agency would also suggest an alternative business plan for the manufacture of components for LHB (Linke Hoffmann Bush, formerly Alstom) coaches and other new generation rolling stock by October 15.
PENDING ISSUES
There are some pending issues in the model suggested, he said, adding that the State Government would be made a partner in the project. Private participation too would be looked into if there is a resource crunch.
On the railway medical college sanctioned for the State Capital, the Union Minister said the railways are ready to go ahead if land was made available.
The Union Minister was of the view that State allows private participation in the proposed Rs 20,000-crore high-speed rail corridor project.
On the demand for setting up an exclusive railway zone for Kerala, Mr Trivedi said deliberations in this regard would have to be taken up at various levels.
A chief administrative officer will be appointed as nodal officer to liaison between Centre and state for railway development.
LONGEST ROUTE
The Railways was ready to flag off the 15905/15906 Kanniyakumary-Thiruvananthapuram-Dibrugarh Vivek Express that would ply the longest route length of 4,500 km from Kanniyakumary to Assam in the North-East.
The Railways would also consider the demand for introducing more coaches for women in trains. Though not economically feasible, the Mysore-Tellicherry line will be looked into at the board level.
The Union Minister said the Railways were ready to reach out to States and engage with them at their home base. Thiruvananthapuram was a pit-stop for a transparency drive launched from Nagaland.
The Chief Minister said that a high-level committee headed by Chief Secretary will hold meeting every month to sort issues between the State and the railways.
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