Union Minister of State for Finance and Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan announces sanction of Rs 4000 crore for rail development project in entire Kanniyakumari – Thiruvananthapuram.
 
The minister announced this at an occasion in Nagercoil Junction Railway station where Union Minister of State of Railways Rajen Gohain laid the foundation stone for Rs 3618 crore Doubling with Electrification projects covering 349 kms in Kanniyakumari-Nagercoil-Thiruvananthapuram on 23rd January.
 
Besides laying the foundation stone for three infrastructural projects, Gohain inaugurated/dedicated Escalator facility, Wi-Fi services and 100% LED lighting facilities at Nagercoil Junction Railway station.
 
Addressing the gathering, Gohain said that Indian Railways is taking continued efforts to enhance facilities for passengers. He said that more customer-oriented facilities are being implemented. 
 
Gohain also lauded Southern Railways’ efforts to implement 100% LED at all stations and praised Southern Railways’ initiatives to eliminate level crossings thus ensuring the safety of rail users. The minister added that the outlay for Tamil Nadu this fiscal year 2017-18 is Rs 2287 crores, which is an increase of about 160% over the financial years from 2009-10 to 2016-17 and the increase in the outlay for passenger amenities from Rs 33 crore in the fiscal 2016-17 to Rs.38 crore in 2017-18.