Title - Manorama Online | 21 railway stations to get multi-functional complexs: Bansal

Kozhikode: A total of 21 railway stations, including Kozhikode, in Kerala had been selected for building multi-functional complexes, Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said at the 125th anniversary celebrations of Kozhikode railway station here Wednesday.

Bansal also said 100 railway stations, including six in Kerala, had been identified across the country for a special cleanliness drive. Referring to various representations, he assured that he would make all possible efforts for the development of railways infrastructure in Kerala.

On the upgradation of the railway station here and two others in the state, Bansal said not much progress had been made because of various reasons like resource constraints. There is a need for such activities like the upgradation of railway stations to world class stations, which can be done through public private partnership (PPP) mode, he said. The density of railway tracks in Kerala was almost double than the national average, he said, adding that there was need for more addition of lines.

He also said railways, the largest public sector employer in the country, would recruit more sportspersons in order to promote young talents. "We want the railways to serve as (a) platform for our young persons to take greater leaps in the sport arena," he said at the 125th anniversary celebrations of Kozhikode Railway station here.

Pointing out to former 'Sprint Queen' P T Usha, present on the occasion, he said: "Usha is here with us. She is from your place and is in Indian railways. She had made our country and Indian Railways proud by her achievements." Usha, who is running the Usha School of athletics at Koilandy in the district, is an Officer on Special Duty (Sports) at Palakkad Division of Southern Railways.

Presiding over the function, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the government was aware of the traffic problems experienced by the people of Kozhikode. With the commissioning of the proposed Monorail projects at Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, the problems would be solved, he said. Necessary permission and support from railways had already been received for the project, he said, adding that work on it would be started at the earliest.