Resource mobilisation needed in Rlys: Gowda

Railway Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Thursday sought a 50 per cent contribution from the Kerala government to undertake railway development projects in the state. 

“Karnataka is providing 50 per cent of the project cost plus free land for railway projects. Even if Kerala is ready to contribute 50 per cent of the total cost alone, it would be make a difference,” Gowda said after a review of aamenities at the Ernakulam South railway station.

On the proposed suburban rail network in Thiruvananthapuram, Gowda requested Kerala to revert to its original proposal where it was expected to share the estimated project cost.

Dismissing charges that Kerala was sidelined in the Union Railway Budget, Gowda said despite persisting issues in land acquisition, the state was allocated Rs 350 crore. Special trains will be operated to meet the Onam rush between Thiruvananthapuram and Bangalore, Thiruvananthapuram and Chennai, Ernakulam and Chennai, Mangalore and Chennai, Mangalore and Nagercoil, Mangalore and Tiruchy, he said.

Defending his decision to focus on resource mobilisation, Gowda said “hundreds of projects” were pending and there was an imminent need for cutting down operational costs.