PM powers Keralas high-speed dreams

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has succeeded in getting the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh agree to the state’s high-end infrastructure dreams of having a high-speed rail corridor and railway coach factory.Chandy was here on a day’s visit with a long itinerary which included meeting the Prime Minister, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Railways Minister Dinesh Trivedi.The ambitious high-speed rail corridor project, the first of its kind in the country, crossed the major hurdle on Thursday with the Prime Minister extending “full support” to help the state get Japanese loan for it.“He has extended full support to the high-speed rail corridor project to get Japanese loan.So our dream of having high-speed rail is going to materialise sooner,” Chandy said.According to him, the Prime Minister expressed happiness over the fact that Kerala has conceived such a large infrastructure project.“The Prime Minister was very appreciative and convened a meeting of the Principal Secretary and other officials then and there,” Chandy said.The state also submitted a Detailed Project Report (DPR) in this regard.“The cost (of the project) is not an issue, especially when the Japanese loan has being assured.But land could be a problem and keeping in mind the special situation in the state, the government will formalise a people-friendly policy in land acquisition which will have a deserving compensation,” he said.Another dream which would become a reality soon is the much-delayed IIT for the state.“The Prime Minister has assured that funds for IIT will be earmarked in the 12th Plan,” he said.According to him, the Railway Board has given permission to the much-delayed coach factory too.“The stone will be laid this week and the work will start soon,” he said after meeting Railways Minister Dinesh Trivedi