Reservation facility opened

KOCHI: The ongoing railway line doubling works in different parts of the State would be completed as per the revised deadlines, despite rain slowing the pace of the works, Minister of State for Railways E. Ahamed said here on Tuesday.

The doubling works at many stretches south of Mulanthuruthy are suffering inordinate delays because of delay in acquiring land and in awarding contracts.

Addressing mediapersons here after the inauguration of the computerised passenger reservation system on the Kerala High Court premises on Tuesday, he said the facility would function from 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 4.30 p.m., with Sunday being a holiday. The system was earlier commissioned by the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court Jasti Chelameshwar. The new satellite-linked amenity would help not only those who come to the court, but also people from the vicinity and those from the Goshree islands.

On contractors reluctant to take up works in Kerala since the rates prescribed by the Railways fall below the market rate in the State, Mr. Ahamed said that he could not give a firm reply since the agency had got a �set practice and could not revise the rates easily. (Many projects, including civil works and commissioning of platform six at the Ernakulam Junction railway station are held up because contractors are unwilling to take up the works). Mr. Ahamed said that platform six would be commissioned only by December. The previous deadline expired in June.