Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/k-rail-project-in-kerala-yet-to-get-nod-says-ashwini-vaishnaw/articleshow/90468247.cms
Publisher: TOI
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Union minister for railways Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that consideration of the K-Rail “depends upon the techno-economical viability of the project”. So far no clearance has been given for the project and the state has been asked to submit detailed technical documents, the minister said this in a written reply given to Adoor Prakash, MP.
“The project is not yet sanctioned. Approval of the cabinet committee of economic affairs will be required as the project costs more than Rs 1,000 crore,” the Union railway minister said.
In the letter, Vaishnaw has said, “The Kerala Rail Development Corporation Ltd has been advised to provide detailed technical documents such as alignment plan, particulars of railway land and private land, crossings over existing railway network, duly depicting affected railway asset through zonal railway for detailed examination of the project and to arrive at conclusion about the feasibility of the project.” After the survey, a detailed project report has been submitted by the KRDCL to the ministry of railways and the cost has been assessed as Rs 63,941 crore with a debt component as Rs 33,700 crore. The project route has been decided by the KRDCL based on the feasibility and financial viability of the project. However, sufficient details for technical feasibility are not available in the detailed project report submitted to the ministry of railways. The minister also made it clear that the KRDCL is a joint venture company of the ministry of railways (49%) and the government of Kerala (51%).
