Vaishnaw didn't provide specifics, and remained mum on the Sabari and Silverline projects, but claimed that the allocation was doubling the funding received by the state during the second United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime from 2009-2014.
Published Feb 03, 2025 | 7:08 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 03, 2025 | 7:16 PM
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced an allocation of ₹3,042 crore for railway development in Kerala
Synopsis: The Railways Minister announced a ₹3,042 crore allocation for Kerala’s railway development following budget criticism. The funds will upgrade 35 stations and support various projects, though critics note 80 percent targets ongoing work. While two Vande Bharat trains currently operate in Kerala, no funds were allocated for the anticipated Silverline and Sabari railway projects, despite their potential impact on regional connectivity.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday, 3 February announced a ₹3,042 crore allocation for Kerala’s railway development following protests by Members of Parliaments (MPs) from the state who criticised the Union Budget 2025-26 for neglecting the state.
The minister said the allocation was part of projects worth ₹15,742 crore for railway development, including plans to upgrade 35 railway stations in the state, but didn’t provide specifics, and remained mum on two of the high-profile railway projects in the state – the Sabari and Silverline projects.
However, he claimed that the allocation was doubling the funding received by the state during the second Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime from 2009-2014.
But, critics argue that 80 percent of the allocated funds target ongoing projects.
Under the Amrit Bharat Scheme, the government will modernise 32 stations, as part of a nationwide initiative to revamp 1,309 stations. The scheme aims to enhance passenger facilities, improve traffic flow and integrate multiple transport modes.
The state currently operates two well-received Vande Bharat trains, with divisional managers monitoring passenger feedback to address overcrowding.
The Railways Ministry plans to launch 200 Vande Bharat trains (medium to long-distance semi-high speed), 50 Namo Bharat class trains (electric multiple unit) for 100-kilometre routes, and 100 Amrit Bharat Express class trains (superfast express) nationwide. Infrastructure improvements focus on flyovers and underpasses across Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
The Railway Budget, merged with the Union Budget in 2017 for enhanced efficiency, now operates through zonal distribution. The Finance Ministry has sanctioned a ₹79,398 crore loan to the railways ahead of this year’s budget.
Despite various developmental projects being highlighted, no separate funds have been allocated for Kerala’s highly anticipated Silverline project, the long-stalled Sabari railway project, or the much-demanded Vande Bharat train services to Chennai and Bengaluru.
The Sabari railway project, a 111-kilometre line sanctioned in 1998 to connect Angamaly to Erumeli, remains in limbo. The line would serve the yearly Sabarimala Temple pilgrims, who outnumber Kerala’s total population. The state government withdrew from a proposed tripartite agreement involving the Railways and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The arrangement would have allowed Kerala to pay its contribution in instalments, with the RBI authorised to recover defaulted payments by deducting from central funds allocated for state projects.
Before the budget announcement, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Minister V Abdurahiman met Vaishnaw to petition for the Silverline project’s inclusion. The project, temporarily halted pending Central government approval, proposes a higher-speed rail line connecting Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod. It will have an operating speed of 200 kilometres per hour and would allow trains to cover the 532-kilometre distance in less than four hours, compared to the present 10 to 12 hours. The corridor will include stations at Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Chengannur, Kottayam, Kochi, Thrissur, Tirur, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasaragod.
Meanwhile, Kerala’s current rail network faces challenges, with 90 percent of train services operating on the Thiruvananthapuram-Mangaluru route. The corridor’s 627 bends limit average train speeds to 45 kmph, though Vande Bharat trains achieve 73 kmph.
The Nilambur-Nanjangud rail project, first proposed by the British in 1882, has progressed with completed surveys along the proposed alignment. The ₹5.9 crore project includes a tunnel through Bandipur National Park to minimise environmental impact whilst reducing travel time to Bengaluru.
BJP state president K Surendran has expressed gratitude to the Union Government for the ₹3,042 crore allocation, stating that this reflects the Narendra Modi government’s special interest in the state.
Highlighting the Centre’s commitment to key projects like the Nilambur-Nanjangud railway line and Sabarimala rail connectivity, Surendran criticised the state government for its alleged inaction.
He cited Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s remarks that during the UPA rule (2009-2014), Kerala received only ₹372 crore annually for railways, whereas under the Modi government, the state achieved full railway electrification with 125 km of new tracks laid and 493 km electrified.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
