The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Rail budget: mixed bag for State

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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Rail budget: mixed bag for State

S. Anil Radhakrishnan

Rs. 320 crore allocated for development projects in State

Demand for exclusive rail zone not acceded
Eight new trains from State

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Though Union Minister for Railways Mamata Banerjee did not accede to the prime demand put forward by the State for an exclusive railway zone, Kerala got a mixed bag in the railway budget.

The prioritisation of the railway needs of the State, the presence of IUML leader E. Ahamed, Union Minister of State, in the Railway Ministry and the groundwork done by the MPs have benefited the State.

Though all the demands put forward by the State did not figure in the budget, the announcements virtually put an end to the alleged neglect of the State.

Eight new trains, including a non-stop Duronto service between Ernakulam and Delhi, have been announced for the State. Railway sources said the number of new trains was a record in the history of the State.

However, the budget was silent on the coach factory in Palakkad and wagon factory in Alappuzha.

Coach factory

Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs M. Vijayakumar, who is in-charge of the Railways, said the railway budget was silent on the prime and long-pending demand for the formation of Peninsular Railway Zone with its headquarters in the State.

“Some of the needs put forward had been addressed. But, the genuine demands and that prioritised by the State had been ignored,” he said.

Besides, the introduction of Mainline Electric Multiple Units (MEMU) for short-distance commuters, electrification of the Shoranur-Mangalore section and doubling and electrification of the Thiruvananthapuram-Kanyakumari line had not figured in the budget.

‘On expected lines’

The former chairman of the Railway Board M.N. Prasad told The Hindu over telephone from Chennai that the railway budget was “quite on expected lines.”

It is a populist budget, pro-poor and Kerala has got its due share of the 57 new trains announced, he said.

Terminal development

Mr. Prasad said more allocation should have been made in the budget for the phase two development of the Kochuveli terminal, for rail overbridges in the State and commencing of MEMU services.

Automatic signalling

Automatic signalling of Thrissur-Ernakulam and Kayamkulam-Thiruvananthapuram should be expedited.

The former Railway Board chief said the railway development of the State was on the right track and substantial development had taken place compared to the development of the road network in the State.

‘The demand for an exclusive zone is frivolous.

The developments in the State had taken place without the formation of a zone in the State,” he added.

Allocation

A sum of Rs. 320.62 crore has been allocated in the Union Railway budget for various development projects in the State for the remaining eight months of the current financial year.

Railway sources this is in comparison to the Rs.212 crore allocated during the same period last year.

In addition to the Rs. 320.62 crore, the State is expected to get another Rs. 18 to 19 crore for introducing various passenger amenities at railway stations.

Of the Rs. 320.62 crore, Rs. 41.17 crore is for new railway lines, Rs. 91 crore for gauge conversion, Rs. 104.50 crore for doubling works, Rs. 51.2 crore for railway electrification of the Ernakulam-Thiruvananthapuram-Nagercoil stretch and Rs. 32.14 crore for the construction of rail overbridges.

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