Will Kerala's new railway dream chug on?

Every year, the state scrambles a hurried wish list seeking new trains before the rail budget and usually the projects sanctioned for the state in the budget have rarely brought smiles to Kerala. But on Friday,

railway board chairman Ashwani Lohani

, surprisingly, welcomed the state government's proposal for two additional railway lines linking Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod.

Lohani gave an in-principle approval for the project and directed Kerala Rail Development Corporation (the joint venture planned between state and railways) to submit a detailed report after conducting a survey . He had assured the chief minister that feasible projects will be taken up.

Though government and top railway officials are excited over the challenge of laying two more sets of tracks along the 575km stretch, commuters' association and a section of experts are unsure whether the Rs 16,600 crore-project would be feasible.

But, senior railway officials believe that the additional lines will improve track efficiency and connectivity. “There is demand from the state government to improve rail connectivity to curb road accidents. Since our tracks are saturated, additional lines are a must to schedule more trains. This need was recognized by railways,“ said general manager of Southern Railway Sudhanshu Mani.

However, former member of state planning board R Ramakumar felt that the government should have pushed for sophisticated options to address congestion issue. “Government should consider elevated tracks which can operate high-speed trains. The state government should invest in projects like bullet trains that are the future options in transport sector. Delays in land acquisition for development projects in the state is a known factor and construction of elevated

railway tracks

will be a more feasible option,“ said Ramakumar, who was associated with infrastructure development programmes during the UDF regime.

But, divisional railway manager Prakash Bhutani said that such a project was a necessity. “Railway tracks have reached their saturation point. And if there is requirement for more trains in future, then additional lines are a must. Considering the future development of railways, similar projects need to be initiated,“ he said.

The construction of double line, with electrification, between Thiruvananthapuram and Kanyakumari (approved by the cabinet committee on economic affairs) is expected to be over by 2020-21. Similar projects will have to be created to manage rail traffic in northern districts, he added.

Meanwhile, representatives of the passengers' associations hailed the project. But they were not very sure how it would pan out and hence expressed their apprehension on its timely completion. “The project for third and fourth railway lines will be a solution to congestion and track utilization in Kerala. But there are several development projects in the state that were proposed over a decade ago, but are still dormant. An expert committee needs to be formed to implement the project effectively. If the project is taken up in a phased manner, then state government can easily fund the estimated amount,“ said

S K Jayakumar

, general secretary of Kerala Railway Passengers' Association.