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Originally Posted by binand Land acquisition is a complex subject where there is no one-solution-fits-all. People have built homes, businesses, their whole life in one location and now suddenly the all-powerful government comes and pays sometimes 30% of the land value and tell them to get lost. |
This is a sensitive subject, I understand. Well if the government cannot find an alternate, drop the plan to develop to the road. But then the state and her elected government should stop complaining. What gets my goose is that Kerala Govt. for quite some time has been trying to get Central Govt. push-in funds and get the work done. Looks like Central Government has now called the bluff, and ask State Government also to play its role more effectively.
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The rail connection was originally between Guruvayur-Tanur. It was later changed to Guruvayur-Kuttipuram and then Guruvayur-Thirunavaya. I'm not sure where you got the "18 houses" number; Malappuram and Thrissur are among the densest populated districts of Kerala.
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I don't have a ready reference for the number of houses. But after the third survey Indian Railways had called all the people for a meeting and explained their methodology.
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Quoting: "It gives 40 per cent of the Kerala’s rice requirement" and "is one of largest, highly productive and threatened wetlands in Kerala".
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Wikipedia is a bit dicey as it may not show correct figures (it is open for all). Alleppey in that case should be producing more rice, and railways have put up new lines without disturbing the ecology in any manner. They tried explaining the same to the folks in Thrissur, Malappuram side as well, but they did not listen. So as I see it today, that plan may also get scuttled soon.
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local connectivity (Railways did start MEMU services but then from what I understand the rakes have been taken away for Tamil Nadu services)
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Due to how signals, track circuits etc. work the double line in Kerala has already been saturated. So chances of effectively running more trains is pretty much difficult. I remember Rail Minister asking state government to help them procure land to add an additional line. In other states (like Karnataka) 50%-50% is the deal. The state government puts in half of the project, and railways bear the rest. In Kerala, the politicians expect 100% cost to be taken up by railway, where as they just sit and dictate on how and where to do things. For MEMU rakes also the same lines are getting used. So yes, even if more MEMU trains are introduced it would just add more pressure on the saturated lines. Yes, TN does take away the MEMU rakes for flimsy reasons, but there is a normal rake which gets put in place. So trains are not going away.
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some respite from the huge rush/waiting list during Onam/Mandalakkalam/Vishu/Vacation from Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai etc
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Railways did operate a few "premium" trains during these time periods. And in some case they converted "premium" (high cost) trains to normal super-fast expresses. But if the expectation is that entire crowd of Malayalis from Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai gets an assured seat in a train to enjoy their vacation, that would be a very wrong expectation.
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Compare the train connectivity between Delhi and points in Bihar and Mumbai and points in Kerala.
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If I get it right, there are more electrified and double line tracks between Mumbai and Delhi. Biharis also have the luxury to use any of the trains proceeding towards North Eastern India (like Kolkotha etc). Two major lines from Mumbai to Kerala are still single line, non electrified territory (Konkan Railway, and the Pune->Kurdwadi->Daund->Gulbarga route). And Delhi and Bihar are very close by areas. Railways cannot build special lines just because 18lakhs Malayalis wants to rush home for their vacations.
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GoK is OK with 60m but the think-tanks and opinion-makers want NHAI to come down again.
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Who are these think-tanks and opinion-makers?

. Most probably the politicians themselves, and perhaps their side kicks in the intellectual and media areas. From what I understand GoK and NHAI has agreed for 45 metres. There was some issue there again two weeks back.
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So GoK has decided to get rid of NHAI and develop the roads via KSTP. Some GoK maintained roads are not bad at all.
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If GoK can pull this efficiently, then I think no body would obstruct. Because generally any thing and every thing is an issue in Kerala, including tolled roads etc. etc. So if you ask me, it would be better to have a
"Kerala Model" for improving both road and railway network (and perhaps a strong water-body based network too). But then how this can be done, it all depends up on Kerala based political parties, the financial position of the state and positive support from people in Kerala. The message I am now getting is that Central Government is only interested in investing money based on working partnerships with state governments.
Happy New Year, 2015!!