Kerala Govt Refutes 'Lack of Interest' Allegations of Union Railway Minister

The government of Kerala has rubbished the allegations of Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw; the latter had accused the state government of showing a lack of interest in development projects in railways.

In a detailed statement, the minister in charge of the railways, V Abdurahiman, listed the aspirations of the state and the delay and/or refusal from the Union government.

Despite Kerala being the first state to launch the joint ventures (JV) as proposed by the Union government, several long term needs of the state have been put on hold, citing a lack of funds and feasibility, among other reasons.

Projects including the semi-high-speed Silverline project between Thiruvananthapuram and Kasargod, Sabari Rail to establish rail connectivity for Sabarimala temple, Nemom terminal, Palakkad zone and coach factory are yet to see light. Requests for MEMU shed in Kollam, doubling in few routes, platform development in Kochuveli have been pending for years for unfound reasons.

While addressing the media in connection with the prime minister inaugurating developmental works in 508 railway stations across the country, the railway minister had accused the government of Kerala of showing little interest in railway development works. He claimed that surveys or preparing detailed project reports (DPR) are met with resistance, and hence it is difficult to do any work.

The state government rebuked the allegations, listing out the neglect of the Union government in approving projects and beginning works on approved projects.

“Kerala is not getting any special projects, new trains or lines; moreover, due consideration is not given for projects announced earlier,” the statement said.

The Nemom terminal project, which was first brought up in 2011 and then again in 2018, was reportedly dropped after the DPR was submitted and even the foundation stone was laid by the Union railway minister himself in 2019.

The platform development work in Kochuveli railway station was halted, citing a lack of funds, the Kerala minister claimed. Both these stations are considered crucial to decongest the traffic in the Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station.

The Chief minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, met the Union railway minister, seeking the department to carry out the pending works, but the state has not received its due.

Land acquisition was completed, and the railways took over 230 acres of land for the construction of a coach manufacturing plant in Kanjikode in Palakkad district in March 2018. Barely three months later, in June 2018, the railways dropped the project itself. The special zone status for Palakkad, a key station in Kerala, is also pending for years.

Considering the road and rail traffic congestion in the state, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government proposed the Silverline Project. A DPR was submitted in June 2020; it was granted in principle but final approval is pending. The United Democratic Front (UDF), led by the Congress, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are vehemently opposing the project.

“The Union minister is looking the other way, accusing the state of failure in conducting a survey for railway development. He should advise his own party leaders in Kerala who are at the forefront of blocking development. It was a contest between BJP and UDF to stop the K Rail survey,” the statement said.

Another important project pending is the Sabari Rail, to ensure rail services to Sabarimala, the hill shrine in Pathanamthitta district. The project was granted approval in 1997 for which the state government has expressed its willingness to bear 50% of the project cost as per the demand of the railways department.

“There is no favourable response from the Union government. Acres of land identified to be acquired are lying idle,” the statement of the minister said.

The survey for Guruvayur-Thirunavaya line, sanctioned in 1998, has not seen any progress even after two decades. The progress of the project is stagnant, since the approval for doubling the track through Alappuzha is pending.

The Railway Board has approved a project worth Rs 42 crore for the development of Kollam MEMU Shed, but the amount has not been sanctioned. The statement also accused the Union minister of state from Kerala, V Muraleedharan, of blocking development activities in Kerala.

Besides, the minister also accused the railways of using outdated and unsanitary bogies for trains in Kerala. The delay in sanctioning the Vande Bharat express train to Kerala was also criticised, considering the increasing demand for rail services.

The statement further added, “The Union Ministry of Railways has piles of petitions submitted by the government of Kerala for the development of railways in the state. The people of Kerala are witnessing that the union ruling party along with the UDF continue to neglect the development of railways. Instead of making a political statement, the union minister should support the state's interest in development matters.”