Demands for railway development in Kerala submitted to Centre: Shashi Tharoor

A list of Kerala's demands in the railway sector has been submitted for consideration ahead of the rail budget, Union minister of state for external affairs Shashi Tharoor said today.
   
A dossier containing 38 proposals from the state had been submitted to the railway ministry and minister of state for railways E Ahamed was following up the matter, he told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
   
On the twin city project between Thiruvananthapuram and Barcelona, an idea mooted by him, Tharoor said a draft agreement had already been prepared and the Mayors of the two cities would have discussions before signing the agreement.

The agreement would also cover projects involving financial commitments but they would be taken up one-by-one, on a project-to-project basis, he said.

Asked about the progress of the work on Vizhinjam port, he said it was the state government which should act fast, adding MPs from the state were willing to help to speed up the project.
  
Tharoor said parties should forget political differences while working for development projects and "we should create an atmosphere of co-operation to bring development to the state".