Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 27 (UNI) Kerala today demanded the formation of a South-West Railway Zone for the development of railways in the region and also for a permanent solution to the outstanding demands of the state.
Addressing newspersons here, Law Minister M Vijayakumar, who is also incharge of Railways, said a proposal for the formation of a South-West Zone had been submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and he had asked for a comprehensive report on it.
Noting that the new zone could be formed by incorporating Thiruvananthapuram, Palakkad, Konkan, Madurai and the proposed Salem Divisions, he said the Centre along with the proposed Salem Division should also take into account the South-West Zone as it could help in the development of the region.
Pointing out that the state was not against the formation of Salem Division, he said ''but it should not be formed after bifurcating Palakkad Division.'' Commenting on the Rail Budget, Mr Vijayakumar said though the state had got a better deal, it would press the Centre for realising the remaining demands.
Recalling that Railway Minister Lalu Prasad during his visit to the state had announced that the Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station would be converted into a world class station, he said it was, however, not mentioned in the budget.
The state would demand the modernisation and development of Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Palakkad and Kozhikode stations into model stations.
''We had also demanded two EMU car sheds for running suburban trains in the state. When the demand itself was put forward during discussions, it was stated that the doubling and the electrification should be first completed. I think it was because of some misunderstanding that the EMU car sheds were not included in the Budget. The suburban trains could have been run in the lines which had completed doubling and electrification,'' he said.
Though the budget had included the electrification of Thrissur-Guruvayur line, the priority should have been given to the Shornur-Mangalore section, he said and added this would be brought to the notice of the Centre.
Mr Vijayakumar said a monitoring system would come into force in a month in Kerala and New Delhi.
He said all the MPs from the state had been asked to press the Railway Ministry for realising all the demands of the state government.
UNI
Addressing newspersons here, Law Minister M Vijayakumar, who is also incharge of Railways, said a proposal for the formation of a South-West Zone had been submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and he had asked for a comprehensive report on it.
Noting that the new zone could be formed by incorporating Thiruvananthapuram, Palakkad, Konkan, Madurai and the proposed Salem Divisions, he said the Centre along with the proposed Salem Division should also take into account the South-West Zone as it could help in the development of the region.
Pointing out that the state was not against the formation of Salem Division, he said ''but it should not be formed after bifurcating Palakkad Division.'' Commenting on the Rail Budget, Mr Vijayakumar said though the state had got a better deal, it would press the Centre for realising the remaining demands.
Recalling that Railway Minister Lalu Prasad during his visit to the state had announced that the Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station would be converted into a world class station, he said it was, however, not mentioned in the budget.
The state would demand the modernisation and development of Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Palakkad and Kozhikode stations into model stations.
''We had also demanded two EMU car sheds for running suburban trains in the state. When the demand itself was put forward during discussions, it was stated that the doubling and the electrification should be first completed. I think it was because of some misunderstanding that the EMU car sheds were not included in the Budget. The suburban trains could have been run in the lines which had completed doubling and electrification,'' he said.
Though the budget had included the electrification of Thrissur-Guruvayur line, the priority should have been given to the Shornur-Mangalore section, he said and added this would be brought to the notice of the Centre.
Mr Vijayakumar said a monitoring system would come into force in a month in Kerala and New Delhi.
He said all the MPs from the state had been asked to press the Railway Ministry for realising all the demands of the state government.
UNI
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