Cost factors may delay suburban railway plan

Thiruvananthapuram: With the Railways making it clear that the Thiruvananthapuram-Chenganoor Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) can be operated only if a third exclusive line was kept apart for it, there are fears that the financial burden may delay the project. The railways had informed the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) that if the RRTS (which will use EMU trains) is operated along the existing lines, it would affect adversely the operations of the mail and express trains in the sector.

Prakash Bhutani, Divisional Railway Manager, Thiruvananthapuram division, told Deccan Chronicle that RRTS would be established after forming a special purpose vehicle (SPV). As per the MoU signed by the state government and the railways,  the SPV had to be formed between the State and the Railways for cost sharing of rail projects, Mr Bhuttani said.

If the cost of the project is fixed at the present estimate of Rs 3,330.78 crore, the state would have to fix the minimum fare for the suburban rail at Rs 10 and a journey from Thiruvananthapuram to Chengannur would cost only Rs 100. However, if more land is acquired for the project, it would automatically increase the cost of the project. This means that the price of tickets would have to be fixed higher, sources said.