Though many of the projects promised earlier by the Railways are yet to take off, this time also the state government has presented its wish list for the overall development of the state’s railway sector. The demands submitted by Minister-in-charge of Railways Aryadan Mohammed to Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, stressed the need for the importance of a rail coach factory in Palakkad, a joint venture company for the fabrication of bogies components at Cherthala by Silk and Autokast and the Sabari rail. The government is still demanding the completion of the old promises like coach depots at Nemom and Kottayam and the construction of railway overbridges. The other demands include the upgrading of secondary railway stations in various parts of the state. New trains, survey for new lines and extension of the trains were also included. Though Aryadan is not that much optimistic, the state government has submitted its demands before the Union Railway Ministry. He came out in the open expressing his displeasure by saying that nothing much is expected from the Budget to be presented on Tuesday.
A meeting of the Kerala MPs convened here to discuss the matter was not fruitful with the MPs from the Left Front boycotting it. The main apprehension raised by the MPs is that several promises made by the Union Government in the previous railway budgets are still remaining on the paper.
Causing hardships to the passengers, the Kayamkulam-Ernakulam via Kottayam and Kayamkulam-Ernakulam via Alappuzha doubling works are moving at a snail’s pace and this is the only sector in Kerala which is not having a double line.
Though the much-hyped Memu was introduced in Kollam after a long delay, there is no Memu maintenance shed and the repair works are being carried out in Palakkad. North Malabar is the worst hit with the electrification works between Shoranur and Mangalore not yet completed. Several trains through this route are being delayed owing to the change of engines at Shoranur railway station.