RailEnquiry

The forthcoming State Budget is expected to include allocation for five major railway projects which, when implemented, would accelerate Kozhikode’s development.M.K. Raghavan, MP, who participated in a high-level meeting convened by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in Thiruvananthapuram, told The Hindu that sufficient funds would be provided in the State budget for Elathur underpass, an over-bridge on Pavangad-Puthiappa road, an underpass at Vadakkumpad, the Panniyankara over-bridge, and for an over-bridge at Fourth Gate on P.T. Usha Road.

The projects:It was decided at the meeting to make budgetary provision for Rs.1.7 crore for Elathur underpass, Rs.3.66 crore for the over-bridge on Pavangad-Puthiappa Road, Rs.1.98 crore for Vadakkumpad underpass, and Rs.10 crore out of the Rs.20 crored needed for the over-bridge at Fourth Gate.Provision would be made for the over-bridge at Panniyankara, he said.

Land acquisition

The State budget would also have Rs.50 crore earmarked for land acquisition. A special committee had carried out a study on the need to have these five development projects which Mr. Raghavan had demanded as essential for Kozhikode’s railway development.

Besides the Chief Minister and Mr. Raghavan, Minister in charge of Railways in Kerala Aryadan Mohammed; Minister for Social Welfare M.K. Muneer; MLAs Elamaram Karim and A. Pradeep Kumar; Public Works Secretary T.O. Sooraj; Kozhikode District Collector K.V. Mohankumar; Mohammed Aneesh, who headed the committee which studied the proposals submitted by the MP; Railway Administrative Officer Danny Thomas; and Additional Divisional Railway Manager Mohan Menon participated in the discussions on the committee’s report at the meeting held in the Chief Minister’s chamber.

Over-bridge

Mr. Raghavan said an understanding was also reached at the meeting to make budgetary provision for an over-bridge at Thondayad bypass.