Thiruvananthapuram | Suburban Rail | Proposed

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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state’s ambitious Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS) commonly known as suburban rail service connecting Thiruvananthapuram to Chengannur may not take off on the expected lines.

Railway Minister Devaragunda Venkappa Sadananda Gowda’s priority for a similar suburban railway system for Bengaluru connecting towns and taluks including Chickaballpur, Bangarpet, Mandya and Tumkur, could well, put the state’s project on the back burner. Kerala got its detailed project report (DPR) prepared by Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) in June while Karnataka had completed the study many months ago using the expertise of Rail Indian Technical and Economic Services (RITES).

Cost wise Bengaluru project is estimated at Rs 10,000 crore while the first phase of Kerala project is pegged at Rs 3330 crore. Since the projects have to be implemented using the existing infrastructure of railways, both reports will now be examined by railway board and technical experts. Many here say it is not difficult to guess railway's stand since past experience proved that projects of minister’s home state always got preference over others.

The Bengaluru project is also exploring 50-50 funding from State and Centre. Since railways was not in a position to fund the Kerala project, the state government had already announced that it would look for alternative sources for resource mobilisation.

“We are awaiting railways response on our project report. We will make the changes, if any, required by them. For instance if they ask us to reduce the number of stations from existing 27 we will have to comply with it,'' said a senior officer.

Moreover, augmentation of railway stations, yard modification, raising the level platforms, automatic block signalling system and train protection and warning system, would all require railway’s approval.

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New Delhi: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has offered his support to the proposed suburban rail network in Kerala with equal participation from central and state governments. The state government had submitted a proposal to establish a rail network that connects the urban areas.
The minister, who had skipped the project in the railway budget, offered his support during his reply to the discussion on the financial bill. Members of Parliament from Kerala had criticised the absence of the project in Prabhu’s railway budget.
The minister said on Thursday that Kerala’s share in the railway budget has gone up to Rs 1,050 crore. Last year, the share was only Rs 267 crore. Prabhu, however, did not elaborate on the help offered to Kerala’s suburban rail project.
There are many ways for participatory development. States can take over the project execution, he said.
The railway is a public property. Privatisation of railways is not a government policy, he added.
The government intends to add two or three coaches to each train to meet the rising demand.

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One serves intra-city traffic, the other, inter-city

: The Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS), which has been mooted to make travel hassle-free for short-distance rail commuters, cannot substitute the Light Metro proposed for Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode as they serve two different traffic corridors and different purposes, say proponents of the project. .

The Finance Department, in its appraisal report of the DPR prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for Light Metro that is awaiting Cabinet nod, had questioned the need of the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) by pointing out that the routes of the RRTS and Light Metro were the same.

Railway upgrade

The RRTS was proposed for 125.65 km between Thiruvananthapuram Central and Chengannur through an upgrade of the existing railway network after a study by the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) at the initiative of the State.

Proponents of the Light Metro say the RRTS aims at increasing the traffic capacity of the railway corridors whereas Light Metro is meant as MRTS for the city road traffic.

The suburban rail system serves mainly inter-city traffic whereas the Light Metro is for intra-city traffic.

Carrying capacity

The RRTS moves along the outskirts whereas the Light Metro passes through the core of the city with more frequent stops. The Light Metro can carry 7,000 per hour per direction traffic (phpdt) against 1,500 to 2,500 phpdt by suburban trains, that too on a mainline rail corridor.

‘Light Metro must’

Even if the RRTS is executed, the two cities will need Light Metro to solve the present traffic and transportation problems and to end overdependence on personalised mode of transport.

In the case of Thiruvananthapuram, there are only three stations — Thampanoor, Kazhakuttam and Kaniyapuram — on the railway line which serve the route of the Light Metro as against the 19 stations proposed in first phase from Technocity near Pallipuram on NH 66 to Karamana.

Except Thampanoor, the available lead from the NH 66 to these two railway stations is also over 1 km. The DMRC has proposed the Light Metro instead of the scrapped monorail for the two cities based on the traffic figures on the proposed corridors.

Cost factor

Compared to the Rs.6,728 crore needed as per current rate for completion of Light Metro in the two cities, the proposed RRTS will cost Rs.3,330.78 crore.

Of this, Rs.1,200 crore is for rolling stock, Rs.1,025 crore for civil work, Rs.554.46 crore for signalling and telecom, Rs.172 crore for electrical work, and the remaining amount for other expenses.


RRTS moves on outskirts, Light Metro through city

Finance wing has questioned need for Light Metro

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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Light metro and suburban rail projects are the two major infrastructure projects that are expected to give Thiruvananthapuram a major facelift. While the state government has approached Centre seeking approval for light metro, it has appointed a project director for the suburban project and has initiated steps to start a new office for it.

In a recent order, the state government has appointed Natpac scientist Tomy Cyriac, who was working as chief consultant of suburban rail project, as the project director. He has been given charge to coordinate various activities and to set up a project office in Thiruvananthapuram.

The government has also dispensed the service of Biju Prabhakar, who was the nodal officer of the project.

The Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation has submitted feasibility of rapid rail transit system (RRTS) or suburban project from Thiruvananthapuram to Chengannur in April last year. The suburban project was proposed considering the challenges in land acquisition. No additional infrastructure is required as a double line exists between Thiruvananthapuram and Chengannur. The RRTS will have 27 stations, including five halt stations.

"Appointment of a full time project director will give the project a much needed boost. There has been no other permanent post to follow up the project," said Cyriac.

The total estimate of the project is Rs 3,330.78 crore. The state has agreed to fund 50% of the project cost and has requested the Centre to fund the remaining amount.

The minimum fare for the suburban rail is Rs 10 and it would cost only Rs 100 for a journey from Thiruvananthapuram to Chengannur.

The average speed of suburban rail will be 57km/hour. Formation of a special purpose vehicle for implementing the project and clarity on funding mechanism will be the major tasks ahead of the project.

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he Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS) proposed for the 125.65-km stretch between Thiruvananthapuram and Chengannur is likely to be the first project to be executed on cost-sharing basis between the State and Railways. The RRTS has been mooted to make travel hassle-free for short-distance commuters, overcome the inability to introduce additional trains in the busy corridor with the existing rail infrastructure, and lessen road congestion.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) being worked out for the cost-sharing of the new railway projects to be executed in the State will cover the RRTS also.

The MoU, drafted by the Transport Department after scrutiny of the Finance Department, is being vetted by the Law Department, official sources said.

Once the MoU is cleared by the State government, the Railway Board should give its approval. Although Railways had proposed 50:50 cost-sharing for the projects to be executed in the new mode, they want the State to meet 76 per cent of the cost of the RRTS, an initiative of the State government.

The detailed project report (DPR) has reached the office of the Prime Minister’s Office. The RRTS is to figure in a meeting of MPs called by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in New Delhi on December 9.

The DPR, prepared by the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) and approved by the government last year, has projected the cost at Rs.3,330.78 crore. The MRVC has found that the RRTS is cost-effective, and requires only an upgrade of the existing railway network. Besides, the corridor can emerge as a continuous urban segment.

Of the estimated cost, Rs.1,200 crore is needed for rolling stock, Rs.1,025 crore for civil work, Rs.554.46 crore for signalling and telecom, Rs.172 crore for electrical work, and the remaining for other expenses.

Minimum fare

The RRTS will see the railway line divided into a series of sections of one km, and the average speed will be 57 kmph.

The minimum fare recommended in the RRTS is Rs.10 with a price range of 80 paise to Rs.2 per km.

RRTS Project Director Tomy Cyriac told The Hindu that efforts are on get the MoU approved and to approach Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu after the meeting of the MPs.

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Thiruvananthapuram: The Centre has asked the sta e government to form a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for acilitating railway projects n the state. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) for he formation of the SPV with 50% stake each for the Centre and the state will be signed in New Delhi on January 8.

A letter in this regard reached the office of the chief secretary on Friday . The SPV will be in charge of future ra lway projects in the state.The Rapid Rail Transport Project (suburban rail pro ect) proposed between Thiruvananthapuram and Chengannur will be a priori y project.

The SPV has been formed o raise funds from the market, whether in the form of PPP , loan or any other options available. Chief secretary Jiji Thomson said the Centre had sought the convenient time of chief minister Oommen Chandy and fixed the date for signing the MoU.

The state had, in fact, requested the Centre to form an SPV for the suburban rail project back in January .Union railway minister Suresh Prabhu had announced in his budget speech that joint ventures would be formed with states for project development, resource mobilization, land acquisition, project implementation and monito ring of critical projects.

The MoU for formation o joint venture between the ra ilway ministry and the state was published in August this year. "There needs no custo misation for the state. It is a common MoU for all states," transport secretary M Siva sankar said. Chandy had re quested the railway minister to expedite steps for the pro ject during his visit to New Delhi last week.

As per the MoU, the state will have to complete the land acquisition while the project will be implemented by the railway zone concerned or any other agency picked by the SPV in consultation with the ministry .

The railway will oversee the operations and mainte nance of the project, the cost of which will be chargeable on the SPV .

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The Cabinet has agreed to the Indian Railways’ suggestion that the State government take 51 per cent of the stake in the proposed special purpose vehicle (SPV) being established to take up the suburban railway line development and other allied railway line development work. The original proposal was that the State and the Centre would share the costs on a 50:50 basis. The Memorandum of Understanding for the SPV will be signed in New Delhi on January 14, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told mediapersons.

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With the State set to ink the pact for cost-sharing of railway projects, the Railways have mooted a third and fourth line on the Thiruvananthapuram-Ernakulam stretch to operate Mainline Electric Multiple Units (MEMUs) frequently to cater to the needs of short-distance rail commuters.

The existing lines and terminals are saturated and chances of introducing more mail and express trains for long-distance travellers, passenger trains for short-distance commuters, and increasing the speed of existing trains are bleak.

The solution is to run MEMUs frequently for short-distance commuters. “For this, dedicated third and fourth rail lines are needed. A whopping Rs.10,000 crore is needed and the cost-sharing pact between the Railways and State has opened avenues for Kerala to take a call as getting land is a big issue,” Vashishta Johri, General Manager, Southern Railway, told The Hindu here.

Mr. Johri hoped that the much-delayed cost-sharing pact with the Railways is a positive action as this will pave the way for the accelerated development of the railway network in the State.

Asked on the Sabari project, which aims to put Sabarimala on the rail map, and making it to the cost-sharing platform, the zonal head said “the Railways are still doubtful of the viability of the project as the traffic is seasonal.”

The thrust of the Railways now is to complete the doubling via Kottayam and Alappuzha as it will bring relief to the commuters in terms of punctuality and track maintenance, he said.

Pointing out the limitations in introducing new trains to Kerala, the General Manager hinted that much need not be expected in the budget.

The last four years, Kerala was given 33 new trains in the successive railway budgets and another nine trains were extended and frequency of four increased and 159 passenger stops added.

Asked on the rail connectivity to the upcoming the Vizhinjam international deepwater seaport, Mr. Johri said the private operator and the State are in touch with them. “Rail connectiv

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