Suburban service may be extended to Malabar.

The government is considering a proposal to extend the Thiruvananthapuram-Chengannur suburban train service to Ernakulam or Malabar, Minister for Railways Aryadan Mohammed has said.

A detailed study will be carried out to assess the feasibility of the proposal for extension of the line in the second phase of the project, he told the Assembly during question hour.

The Minister said the electrification of the Shoranur-Kozhikode rail line would be completed soon. The electrification of the Kannur-Mangaluru line would be completed by June 2016, he said while replying to a question by P.T.A. Rahim and others. As many as 17 railway projects in Kerala were awaiting clearance from the Union government.

Mr. Mohammed said lack of financial support from the Railways and the delay in land acquisition had affected the line doubling and gauge conversion works on several stretches. The government, he said, had taken steps to speed up the land acquisition process.

THE HINDU