§ Colonel YATEasked the Under Secretary of State for India whether, in consideration of the fact that railway connection between India and Ceylon will probably be effected in the course of next year and that, as far as Ceylon is concerned, it is expected that the line will pay its way from the first, he will state whether there is an early prospect of the standard gauge, five feet six inches, of India being brought down to link up with the same gauge in Ceylon?
§ Mr. TREVELYANI have been asked by my hon. Friend to answer this question. No, Sir. At present the metre gauge line of the South Indian Railway is being completed to Danishkodi on Rameswaram Island. From that point there will be a ferry connection with the Ceylon Railway system at Manaar. There is no immediate intention of constructing a railway between Danishkodi and Manaar.