THIRUVANANTHAPURAM (Metro Rail News): The Japan companies have moved here to review on the Kerala semi-high speed rail project with Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod. This kind of companies which develop coaches and signals for bullet trains and will make talks with the Railway Development Corporation to manufacture coaches and signals for the determined project.
The coaches would cost Rs 4000cr where Ro-Ro service coaches that transfer goods truck would cost Rs 1000 cr. The telecom and signal systems would cost Rs 3000 cr. The entire estimated cost for this semi-high speed rail is around Rs 66,405 cr but it will most probably cost approximately Rs 70,000 cr once the project finishes in 2024.
The govt would have to avail of foreign loans of Rs 35,000 cr. JICA has initiated forward offers. The interest rates will be within 0.2% to 0.5%. This can be up to 6% because of the variations in dollar rates. The payback time is 20-30 yrs and the moratorium time is 10 yrs. The last alignment of the high-speed rail would be made this week.
The Railway Development Corporation would get the details of land which needs to be acquired. The rail for the project requires to be formed parallel to the existing rails. The railway has two hundred hectares of land and will need to acquire a more 1226 hectares.
Earlier finished a journey in the semi high-speed rail from the capital to Kasaragod will take only four hours. The rail coaches could travel at a speed of 200 kilometres per hour. The coaches would be air-conditioned. The advanced telecom system will be effective in any climate. Stations and yards will be of the world-class level.
Very long time is taken for first project. At least testing should start for Ahmedabad Surat, short distance, at the earliest time.
To reduce project cost manufacturing should be done in India as per Japanese design.