Trivandrum-Kasargod High-Speed Rail Corridor| Proposed

[Damukannappan]

Trivandrum-Kasargod High-Speed Rail Corridor

The Centre Friday promised financial assistance for the Thiruvananthapuram-Mangalore high-speed rail corridor project.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has now been entrusted with preparation of a detaile project report to be submitted within six months.

A decision regarding this was taken at a high level meet convened at the Prime Minister's Office.

A feasibility report by DMRC says that the first phase from Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi might entail an investment of over Rs 40,000 crore.

The second phase that would link Kochi with Mangalore might need an investment of a little over Rs 1.18 lakh crore.

If realised travel from Kochi to Thiruvananthapuram could be covered in 45 minutes.

Kerala High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd website

[mohammedirshad06]

Good Thread!!!!

Details of Kerala HSR Project



Key Facts

Route : Trivandrum to Manglore
First Phase : Trivandrum to Cochin (cost: Rs. 43,254 crore)
Second Phase : Cochin to Manglore (cost: Rs. 1,18,050 crore)
Total Cost : Rs. 1,61,304 crore
Top Speed : 350 km/hr
Traveling Speed : 300 km/hr
Traveling Time : Trivandrum to Cochin only 45 minutes.
No. of Stations : 9
Seating Capacity : 817

[jithuajayan]

Originally Posted by mohammedirshad06

Good Thread!!!!

Details of Kerala HSR Project



Key Facts

Route : Trivandrum to Manglore
First Phase : Trivandrum to Cochin (cost: Rs. 43,254 crore)
Second Phase : Cochin to Manglore (cost: Rs. 1,18,050 crore)
Total Cost : Rs. 1,61,304 crore
Top Speed : 350 km/hr
Traveling Speed : 300 km/hr
Traveling Time : Trivandrum to Cochin only 45 minutes.
No. of Stations : 9
Seating Capacity : 817

so thw trivandrum-ernakulam strech wud be part of indian railwways high speed rail project or Keralas???

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by jithuajayan

so thw trivandrum-ernakulam strech wud be part of indian railwways high speed rail project or Keralas???

That still remain a confusing part.... Eariler at the time of report preparation, only Chennai-Blore-Cbe-Kochi stretch of South IR HSR was planned. Hence it was paramount importance for DMRC to plan for TVM-Kochi connectivity and later from Kochi to North. This would allow passengers to make Kochi interchange from Kerala HSR to IR HSR....

But just 4 months back, things changed rapidly. OC was pushing IR to extend Chennai-Kochi HSR to Trivandrum and claimed the state is going to save Rs 50,000 Crores as the state need not invest....

So we are yet to know who is going to build Kochi-Trivandrum stretch. Is it IR going to build this part of Chennai-TVM stretch or Kerala HSRL or JV?

I think, only in days to come DMRC, KHSRL and IR to sort out the issue.

If IR taking up this stretch, Kottayam station will be lost as they plan for a direct connectivity from Kochi to Trivandrum. KHSRL plans for Kottayam Station and potential in future Kollam.

This issue will come up in future as IR HSR is not going to stop at Thrissur in its connectivity from Coimbatore, whereas Kerala HSR plans for stop at Thrissur and Shoranur (Palakkad)...

I believe, its these matters DMRC will have to address in its final DPR....

[Damukannappan]

Originally Posted by mohammedirshad06

Good Thread!!!!

Thanks Irshad

[chekuthan]

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topic...0&parent_id=22

Indian Railways keen to take up Kerala project
By Ashraf Padanna/Thiruvananthapuram


The Indian Railways has expressed interest in taking up India’s first high-speed railway corridor project linking the Kerala capital to Managalore in the neighbouring Karnataka state.
The expression of interest came from Vinay Mittal, chairman, Railway Board, at the high-level meeting called by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s office in New Delhi yesterday at the instance of the Kerala government.
“The Indian Railways said they were interested in the project since it was the first high-speed rail corridor in India. The Railway Board has been asked to approach the federal cabinet,” said P Prabhakaran, chief secretary of Kerala, who attended the meeting, chaired by Pulok Chatterjee, principal secretary to the prime minister.
The north-south high speed rail corridor (HSRC), which is expected to develop as the ‘economic lifeline’ of Kerala, was originally planned as a PPP (public-private partnership) project. However, there was a consensus at the meeting that it could be built as a joint-venture between the state and the centre with Japanese funding.
E Sreedharan, former chairman of the Delhi Metro Development Corporation (DMRC), which conducted a feasibility study, felt the project would require federal viability gap funding to make it possible.
The DMRC has been asked to submit a detailed project report in six months. As a member of the Kerala Planning Board, the ‘metro man’ now advises the state government on both the high-speed corridor and Kochi Metro in the state’s port city.
“There was a suggestion for incorporating a special purpose vehicle between the state and centre and go for government funding. But this has not been finalised,” said T Balakrishnan, chairman and managing director of the Kerala High-Speed Rail Corporation.
Balakrishnan has been suggesting that the state raise funds from non-resident Indians for the projects - like it did in the case of the Cochin International Airport Limited which has more than 10,000 investors from 30 countries and whose Rs10-share now fetches around Rs500.
However, others who are skeptical about immediate profitability of the rail corridor which require a huge investment of more than Rs1,000bn, are batting for direct government funding with external aid. They argue that the infrastructure development with private participation is a failed model in India.
The estimated project cost, for the first phase from Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi, with a route length of 194km, is Rs433bn.

[chekuthan]

Planned stations

1. Trivandrum Central
2. Kollam Railway Station
3. Kottayam Railway Station
4. Ernakulam Town
5. Thrissur Railway Station
6. Shoranur Junction
7. Kozhikode Railway Station
8. Kannur Railway Station
9. Kasargod Railway Station
10. Mangalore Central

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by chekuthan

Planned stations

1. Trivandrum Central
2. Kollam Railway Station
3. Kottayam Railway Station
4. Ernakulam Town
5. Thrissur Railway Station
6. Shoranur Junction
7. Kozhikode Railway Station
8. Kannur Railway Station
9. Kasargod Railway Station
10. Mangalore Central

I doubt about Kollam Station.... I have seen a hue and cry in Kollam SSC that DMRC's report donot include Kollam.... Moreover I have eariler understood that Shoranur was included as a station being the strategic junction.

Anyway, let me try to get some official report.......

[mohammedirshad06]

The central government on Friday promised financial assistance to the Kerala government for setting up a high-speed rail corridor from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasargode, a first of its kind in the country.

During the first high-level meeting in this regard, held at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the Railway ministry offered its partnership to the project apart from promising 'active lobbying' for a cabinet nod.

The project aims to connect both the ends of Kerala in just two-and-a-half hours' journey.

A feasibility study conducted by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), had originally envisioned the project to cover the distance from Thiruvananthapuram to Mangalore. However, it requires the approval from the Karnataka government to connect to Mangalore.

The meeting, convened by the prime minister's principal secretary Pulok Chatterjee, has decided that the project will be implemented with the joint cooperation of the Centre and the State.

Observing that public-private partnership (PPP) may not be feasible for the project, the meeting has decided to seek loan from the Japan Bank to meet the project cost.

The Cenre has asked the Kerala government to submit a detailed project report (DPR) to the Centre within six months. Kerala's chief secretary P Prabhakaran later said the state government has asked the DMRC to prepare the DPR.

Apart from the Prime Minister's principal secretary and the Kerala's chief secretary, the senior railway officials, Planning commission representatives and the High-speed Rail Corporation managing director T Balakrishna were present in the meeting.

"There was a suggestion for incorporating a special purpose vehicle between the state and the Centre and go for government funding. But this has not been finalized," said Mr. Balakrishnan.

The meeting was convened by the PMO in response to chief minister Oommen Chandy's memorandum to Prime Minister.

ASIAN AGE

[mohammedirshad06]

Quoting from two important Malayalam Dailies, The Manorama and Mathrubhumi

Central Nod for Kerala HSR. DMRC to prepare final DPR within 6 Months

1. E.Sreedharan likely to take over head of Kerala HSRL

2. The trains are expected to run at a speed of 300 Kms per Hour, taking distance from Trivandrum to Kochi at less than 45 Minutes and to Kasargod within 2 hours

3. E.Sreedharan recommends Standard Gauge for the project

4. The Govt will be racing to get formal approvals by end of this year. Works to commence by end of 2013 or early 2014.

5. The entire project is planned to complete by 2020. The First Phase- Kochi-Trivandrum likely to be ready by 2017.

6. Chances for PPP diminishes as DMRC recommends for Central-State JV with viability funding from Japan, as in case of Kochi Metro. Talks with Japan to be held soon.

Source:- Malayala Manorama



Source:- Mathrubhumi

[engineer.akash]

How would the fares be like? Break even kashta alwa?? I guess the fares would be higher than flights

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by engineer.akash

How would the fares be like? Break even kashta alwa?? I guess the fares would be higher than flights

No Idea!!! It must be included in DPR to be prepared.... But I believe, there will be subsidies and Tax concessions issued, like in any metro rail to make it affordable... But will never be able to stoop to the level of IR's General Compartment..... Probably, it will competing with Second Class A/C fares....

I am sure, no major project like this, will be economically profitable.... Thats why E.Sreedharan recommends for Govt intervention, instead of PPP.

But it will generate multiplier effects.... The business would be at ease. Today, most of the rail-lines in Kerala are running above 100% saturation rates, due to which speed of every train is getting reduced.... If a considerable population shifts to HSR, it will provide more breathing space to IR...

Moreover it biggest benefit is, it spreads urbanity equally.... A businessman from Mlore, can live in Mlore itself, do business in Cochin and return/vice versa..... By this way several multiplier urban costs can be arrested and ensured better equality of regions. After all, Kerala's basic urban policy is not to create any single Metro, rather make Kerala itself one single Megapolis.... So HSR automatically acts as a metro for a city called Kerala!!!!

[Jomy]

After all, Kerala's basic urban policy is not to create any single Metro, rather make Kerala itself one single Megapolis.... So HSR automatically acts as a metro for a city called Kerala!!!!

This wiill become a realty may be by 2030, this is my dream. The only state in India that have the pottential to become a 100% urban state, better to call Kerala City . India's largest urban agglomeration, who knows may be one of worlds largest with 4 International Airports and air strips at majors district headquarters, Two International container transhipment termanals and few small ports, an express higway streching the whole state and an High speed rail network. All the mentioned projects are already announced, Big question is its implementaton, If govt can do this successfully, we could see the rise of largest urban agglomeration, a single Megapolis in the southern part of india streching around 600 Kms.

Hope this dream will become a realty........

[mangalore mania]

Originally Posted by Jomy

This wiill become a realty may be by 2030, this is my dream. The only state in India that have the pottential to become a 100% urban state, better to call Kerala City . India's largest urban agglomeration, who knows may be one of worlds largest with 4 International Airports and air strips at majors district headquarters, Two International container transhipment termanals and few small ports, an express higway streching the whole state and an High speed rail network. All the mentioned projects are already announced, Big question is its implementaton, If govt can do this successfully, we could see the rise of largest urban agglomeration, a single Megapolis in the southern part of india streching around 600 Kms.

Hope this dream will become a realty........

first i want people in kerala to grow up and stop doing strikes for every small issues. They have no idea how much loss it causes for public. Even a strike in kerala affects business in Mangalore. And talking about such big projects it ll go to big protest against land acquisition. And tell where does kerala has land for such expressways. Govt cant fund all for that and private ll not involve unless it has opportunity for townships. I am listening about this expressway from last 10yrs this. And now this new high speedrail. I know it ll be easy for govt to build this high speedrail than pan kerala expressway. Kochi container yard is not even making profit yet.

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by mangalore mania

first i want people in kerala to grow up and stop doing strikes for every small issues. They have no idea how much loss it causes for public. Even a strike in kerala affects business in Mangalore. And talking about such big projects it ll go to big protest against land acquisition. And tell where does kerala has land for such expressways. Govt cant fund all for that and private ll not involve unless it has opportunity for townships. I am listening about this expressway from last 10yrs this. And now this new high speedrail. I know it ll be easy for govt to build this high speedrail than pan kerala expressway. Kochi container yard is not even making profit yet.

I don't see any undue strike happening in Kerala, for past 10 years..... Ofcourse, Kerala is a highly politicial aware society and hence protests do happen when some injustice happens.... That happens in France or Germany too....

Many people still continue to harbour the militant era of late 70s/80s/90s even today.... Land acqusition is an issue, but never heard any regular hartals or strikes on behalf of LA..... If one or two happens, its because there was some grave injustice happened... Say in Moolampilly, the evictees were forcibly removed using police action.....

The number of losing working days in Kerala have drastically reduced due to strikes. I have the figures with me.... But one cannot compare with other states, where several repercussions may go unnoticed. Investors, if want to invest in Kerala, should not think of exploitation in anyform, which will surely be opposed.... Its here, there is a massive difference between other states and Kerala. In other states, only major massive exploitations will be questioned, where in Kerala, a minute one shall be questioned. So investors, must require a strong PR and HR activity while in Kerala..

Expressway was utmost nessecity in one form, as traffic is getting higher and roads cannot be expanded.... But the original form cannot be implemented in Kerala, as its not possible to set barriers on ground.... May be fully elevated expressway is the only solution and the govt might revive such proposal partially

I too support HSR is the only solution as of now for the future connectivity and since its a project which both Communists and Congress supports, I feel it will move more faster........

[nishanth.kh9]

Well this is a very huge project..A proper funding scheme is required..kerala is not a rich state..so building such a huge project is not easy

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by nishanth.kh9

Well this is a very huge project..A proper funding scheme is required..kerala is not a rich state..so building such a huge project is not easy

Well, the project scale is huge.... Around 1.16 Lakh Crore almost.... But I don't think, that can deter the project, if there is a strong determination and political will power. According to E.Sreedharan, who prepared the report, 80 to 85% can be raised by JICA and they are keen to fund for Kerala....

Then the question is 20% which Central and State has to bear.... I assume its almost 50,000 to 60,000 crores.....

Yes, its a major concern for the state. But the state can consider for NRK investments like CIAL style, and mortgage the state land bank from Indian Banks to raise remaining funds....

Anyway, we need to wait 6 more months to know how much Kerala needs to shell out for the project and what are the sources.... Let DMRC prepare the DPR to know the possibilities.....

[nishanth.kh9]

Bro I agree..But if JICA does not accept to provide funding then they must go for PPP..that will b the only option

[mohammedirshad06]

Originally Posted by nishanth.kh9

Bro I agree..But if JICA does not accept to provide funding then they must go for PPP..that will b the only option

I don't think PPP might be considered for this project.

Two reasons for it

1. DMRC and E.Sreedharan are generally not receptive for PPP and since they are involved with the project, the public perception will also be similar

2. PPP is very likely or say almost 95% receptive to into ALLEGATIONS of corruption. In Kerala, even conferring one cent of land without following a single layer of procedure would be deemed as corruption and in this case if going by Hyderabad Metro case, would require almost gifting huge tracts of land in a land starved state to the Private player, which would surely go into corruption allegation

A Govt running on wafer thin majority will never think of involving into a major scandal.... They might even drop the project, rather taking a huge risk of allegation

I believe, there might be a primary understanding between DMRC and JICA for the project funding. Its in that confidence E.Sreedharan is telling JICA will fund for it. I believe, even this might be the reason, why Center is equally interested in the project.... They can earn goodwill, while less issue if some major financing agency is ready to fund....

In recent, JICA seems to be the major financing partner for the state. Every day, some project or other is getting financed by Japan. So there might be some fire, behind this smoke

[d_rk]

Originally Posted by mohammedirshad06

I don't think PPP might be considered for this project.

Two reasons for it

1. DMRC and E.Sreedharan are generally not receptive for PPP and since they are involved with the project, the public perception will also be similar

2. PPP is very likely or say almost 95% receptive to into ALLEGATIONS of corruption. In Kerala, even conferring one cent of land without following a single layer of procedure would be deemed as corruption and in this case if going by Hyderabad Metro case, would require almost gifting huge tracts of land in a land starved state to the Private player, which would surely go into corruption allegation

A Govt running on wafer thin majority will never think of involving into a major scandal.... They might even drop the project, rather taking a huge risk of allegation

I believe, there might be a primary understanding between DMRC and JICA for the project funding. Its in that confidence E.Sreedharan is telling JICA will fund for it. I believe, even this might be the reason, why Center is equally interested in the project.... They can earn goodwill, while less issue if some major financing agency is ready to fund....

In recent, JICA seems to be the major financing partner for the state. Every day, some project or other is getting financed by Japan. So there might be some fire, behind this smoke

One of the advantage of this HSR is people will carry less luggaue with them and easy travel.. since they reach their destination within 45 min or two hours.. people will travel light..