IX. STRATEGIES AND OBJECTIVES FOR TENTH PLAN

58. With the completion of doubling between Kayamkulam and Trivandrum, there has been an appreciable reduction in running time of train on this route, making the railway the fastest available mode of public transport. As a result, more and more of short-distance passengers are likely to switch over from road to rail, subject to availability of trains. This, incidentally, will help ease the traffic congestion on the arterial road to some extent. As and when the doubling of Shoranur-Mangalore route gets completed, there is likely to be a quantum jump in the via. Konkan traffic, both passenger and freight. With the thrust given by the Kerala Govt. to promotion of tourism, there is likely to be a substantial increase in the number of tourists, both domestic and foreign, travelling by train..
    

59. The Port of Cochin is venturing on an ambitious project of setting up of a world class container Transhipment Terminal at Vallarpadam. As per the traffic projections, this terminal would be handling around 3 million TEUs. If the proposed terminal materialise, there would be enough justification for a rail link to Vallarpadam.

60. Because of growing congestion of roads connecting the cities with their suburbs, considerable delays and hardships are suffered by suburban commuters. This can be alleviated if special suburban services are introduced by the Railways under the proposed new Railway Infrastructure Development Corporation. A start in this direction could be made at Kochi during the 10th Plan.
    

Schemes and Priorities for the Tenth Plan

The following would be the priorities for the Tenth Plan.


1. Completion of Doubling on the Shoranur-Mangalore Section



2. Doubling of Ernakulam-Mulanthuirathi



3. Railway Electrifiation of Ernakulam-Trivandrum section



4. Guage conversion of Quilon-Tenkasi section



5. Provision of a Second Passenger Terminal at Kochuveli, near Trivandrum (approx. cost Rs.10 crores)



6. Provision of crossing facilities at Parassala, Nemom and Cheriyanad (approx. cost Rs.9 crores)



7. Doubling of Mulanthurathi-Kayamkulam section (as the final phase of doubling of Ernakulam-Kayamkulam section) (approx.cost Rs.200 crores)



8. Provision of crossing facilities at three stations on the Ernakulam-Alleppey-Kayamkulam section (approx. cost Rs.8 crores)

61. Under the proposed new scheme for State's participation in infrastructure development by setting up a Railway Infrastructure Development Corporation, the following important projects are recommended for inclusion in the Tenth Plan.
    
    
    1. Electric Suburban Services in the Greater Cochin Development Area
       By introduction of automatic block signaling on the existing double line sections and provision of suitable terminal facilities for operation of MEMUs (i.e. Main line EMUs)
       
       
       1. Between Angamali and High Court Terminal (Present Goods shed area)
       
       
       
       2. Between Trippunithura and Ernakulam (already sanctioned for doubling)
          (The approx. cost of the scheme would be Rs.65 crores. This would be shared between the state and the Railway in the ratio 2:1)
       
       

62. Construction of Road Overbridge in lieu of Level Crossings on busy roads (where the train vehicle units exceed 1 lakh) having received a new impetus of late, the tempo needs to be kept up during the 10th Plan, in view of the continuing fast growth of motor vehicles in the State. 39 ROBs already sanctioned require an additional Rs.30 crores from MOST's Road Fund towards the State Governments 50% share of cost. Further to the above, 35 more ROB, are required to be constructed during the Tenth Plan, for which another Rs.60 crores would be needed from the MOSTs Road Fund.



63. The following matters connected with railway facilities in the State need to be taken up with the Railways:
    
    
    1. Development a second entry to Ernakulam Junction by taking over a new building (ground floor) built for the purpose by GCDA on the eastern side of the existing station yard, along with extension of the foot over bridge to connect the same to the existing platforms.
    
    
    
    2. Replacement of the existing conventional shuttle trains with DMU (Diesel Multiple Units) or (MEMU's Main-line EMUs) in electrified sections to provide faster services at closer intervals, so as to cater to the increasing demand for local travel.
    
    
    
    3. Introduction of domestic container services linking North and Western India with Kerala, via; The Konkan route.
    
    
    
    4. Opening a new flag station to serve Nedumbassery Airport
    
    
    
    5. Extension land raising of station platform to suit the longest trains being run on each section.



64. Plan Committee understands that Govt. of Kerala has entered into an MOU with the Konkan railway, KSIDC and private promoter to prepare a project report for a Sky Bus Metro System in Kochi which will initially be operated from Kalamassery to Vyttila. If the feasibility study establishes the viability of the project, KSIDC is reported to have agreed to participate in the equity of the Special Purpose Vehicle that would be formed for the implementation of the project. The proposed joint venture between State and Railways should take this new development also into account before taking a final decision on the proposal. The Working Group on Other Transport Services has proposed an out of Rs.29733 crores for the Tenth Plan, details of which are given in Table -10.

Table - 10

Ninth Plan Outlay and Working Group's projection for the Tenth Plan

                                                                                    (Rs. in lakhs)

Sector	Ninth Plan Outlay	Anticipated Expenditure	Amount proposed by the Working Group for Tenth Plan
Other Transport Services	1900.00	6099.00	29733.00