The total outlay provided for the railway projects in the State in the 2016-17 budget is Rs.1,041 crore. Compared to the outlay for 2015-16, it is less by Rs.57 crore. But, railway officials say the outlay will go up once the EBR is considered.
The rail electrification of the 66 km Shoranur-Nilambur line has been given Rs.34.4 crore and the 44-km Kollam-Punalur line Rs.33 crore. As many as 12 ROB and 17 RUB and subways have also got the outlay for the next fiscal.
The gauge conversion from Punalur to Shencottah has been given Rs.101 crore, the satellite terminal at Kochuveli Rs.1 crore, Rs.4 crore for the pitline in Ernakulam and Rs.1.1 crore for the West Hill Goods Shed.
The budget is silent on the long-pending rail coach factory at Kanjikode and the wagon manufacturing unit at Cherthala and converting Thiruvananthapuram Central, Ernakulam and Kozhikode into world class stations.
Leaders across the political spectrum, including Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan and KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran, described the Union Railway Budget as deeply disappointing for Kerala. However, the BJP described the budget as satisfactory, growth oriented and people friendly.
