Railways gave top priority to safety and security of passengers and the ministry in co-ordination with state governments had taken security measures along the rail tracks, Minister for State for Railways E Ahmed said here today.

The ministry was also contemplating to run pilot trains and slow speed passenger trains to ensure passenger safety.

On the rail coach factory in Kerala's Palakkad district, he said a decision on the matter would be taken soon by a cabinet committee.

The electrification of Tiruchirapalli-Dindigul section has been completed and the work on the section between Madurai and Dindigul was going on.

The railway ministry would construct three new railway overbridges in Trichy division, he said.

He formally inaugurated a Rs 45 lakh cell kitchen, an extended version of refreshment rooms set up to supply high quality food at railway stations and pantry car trains.

]IRCTC would open 16 cell kitchens in the south, a railway press release said.

It was also proposed to open 19 fast food outlets in south zone in this year.

IRCTC was managing on board catering services in 57 pantry car trains and 26 train side vending services, it said.