Govt. willing to extend high-speed rail up to Kasaragod.

The State government has an open approach to extending the high-speed rail network from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod against the current proposal to wind it up in Kannnur, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said.

Replying to a submission of M. Rajagopal in the Assembly, Mr. Vijayan said the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, which conducted a feasibility study of the project, had recommended to limit it to Kannur.

The report said the number of commuters between Kannur and Kasaragod would be less than 200 and hence it was financially unviable. The project could be made viable by extending the line up to Managaluru. Permission of the Karnataka government was imperative for extending the line up to Mangaluru. The government had already written to Karnataka in this regard and was willing to continue the effort, he said.

Water would be released from the Bhoothathan Kettu barrage to maintain the water level in Peryiar, Mr. Vijayan said in reply to a submission of John Fernandes on the need to sustain the level and also check pollution of the river. The Pollution Control Board too would take steps to end the pollution, he said.

THE HINDU