Govt learns lesson from protests; K-Rail stone-laying stopped, new method for survey

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There will be no more stone-laying for K-Rail. Instead of laying stones, it has been decided to use geo tag system for the social impact assessment study. The new decision was made in the wake of the intensifying protests against the laying of stones. The order was issued by the revenue department as demanded by the Kerala Railway Development Corporation. The stone-laying and survey had been halted for a few days. The opposition had alleged that the move was on account of the Thrikkakkara bypolls. Earlier, the stone-laying was halted during the CPM party congress as well.

Earlier an RTI document was released stating that around Rs 82 lakhs was spent for laying the border stones. K-Rail had spent a total of Rs 81.60 lakhs till last February, for bringing and laying stones in various places. The data was cited in a reply given by the K-Rail to RTI activist K Govindan Namboothiri. As of now, Rs 3.23 crores has been spent for various surveys. Rs 2.08 crores for LiDAR sky survey for preparing alignment, Rs 23.75 lakhs for traffic and transportation, Rs 8.27 lakhs for topographical survey and Rs 22 crores for preparing DPR alone. However, the union railway ministry had earlier said that the DPR was not complete. A sum of Rs 59.47 lakhs was spent for improving K-Rail’s image. Another Rs 6.11 lakh was given to the advocates who appeared for the 12 cases against SilverLine, in the High Court.