MALAPPURAM: Minister of State for Railways E Ahmed has said the government will take special initiative to change the Tirur and Kozhikode railway stations into model stations in Kerala.
Speaking to reporters at Malappuram press club on Saturday, he said that the ministry had already sanctioned Rs 1 crore for the development of Tirur railway station. For the enhancement of Kozhikode railway station, the government would initially seek suggestions from Rail Passengers’ Association and Malabar Chamber of Commerce within two weeks, he said.
Referring to the absence of infrastructure at the Kozhikode railway station, the minister said he would exert special interest to give a facelift to the zone within a year. Enhancement of all the other railway stations will also be considered after studying the requirements, he said.
While mentioning the special interest of the ministry in completing the doubling work of Shoranur- Mangalore railway line, he said initiatives would be taken in such a way to finish the works by September. Doubling works pending in areas such as Karakkad, West Hill, Valapattanam and Nethravathi would be completed within this time limit, he said.
“The electrification of Mangalore-Shoranur railway line also will be considered within a short span as per the decision of the ministry”, Ahmed said.
When asked about the development of Nilambur- Nanjankode railway line, he promised that the project would be pushed in such way to realise at the earliest. Tirunavaya- Guruvayoor railway line will also be considered the same way, he added.
RECEPTION ACCORDED
Ahmed who reached the district after taking over as Minister of State for Railways was accorded a rousing reception at the district headquarters on Saturday.
The minister who reached the Karipur airport around 3.15 p.m. was welcomed under the leadership of IUML leaders. IUML general secretary P K Kunhalikutty, P V Abdul Wahab MP and office- bearers of Malabar Chamber of Commerce were present at the airport during the arrival of the minister.