Kerala seeks high-speed trains

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While Union railway minister Suresh Prabhu assured to increase the frequency of Rajdhani Express train to five and initiate a study on the railway related development issues of the state, the state government urged the Centre to sanction high-speed train services. During a discussion with the Union minister on Monday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan requested him to expedite the ongoing developmental activities.

Mr Prabhu assured that since Kerala was an open defecation free state, steps would be taken to install bio-toilets on trains running here. A study by Rail India Technical and Economic Service on the railway development issues of the state would also be initiated. He said the doubling of Haripad-Ernakulam and Thiruvalla-Kuruppanthara railway lines need to be expedited and the railways would allot funds for land acquisition without delay.

Funds would be allocated in the next budget for development of Thiruvananthapuram-Kanyakumari line, he said. The railway minister also assured steps to ensure the safety of railway tracks and to replace old coaches. PWD minister G Sudhakaran, who is in charge of railways, and senior railway officials were also present.