KOCHI: Even though several promises were made in the previous editions of the Railway Budget, a look into the progress on the plans to set up new railway lines in the state clearly shows that the announcements have all turned out to be nothing more than empty commitments.
While the much-anticipated Edappally-Guruvayoor railway line was mooted as far back as in 2006, a survey on how much land would be required for the project was proposed and it is currently ‘dead’. Similarly, the work on the much-hyped Sabarimala-Chengannur project also remains shelved for all practical purposes.
The survey report for the Nanjangud-Nilambur railway line was submitted to the Railway Board last year. Currently, the report has been kept back requesting for details from the chief administrative officer of the Southern Railways. The approval for the Tellichery-Mysore railway line, the survey of which was completed on May, 2013, is currently pending with the Railway Board.
Similarly, the survey of the Angadippuram-Kozhikode railway line was completed but the board is yet to give green signal for the project as is the case with the Kanjangad-Panathur railway line.
Further, steps are yet to be expedited for the Madurai-Ernakulam (Cochin) railway line if it is to become a reality and provide any benefit ot the people living in this sector. The Erumeli-Pathanamthitta-Punalur-Thiruvananthapuram survey report has been completed but is yet to see the light of the day.
The Railway officials claim that the survey of the Erumeli-Punalur-Trivandrum railway line is currently progressing.
Similar other projects which are yet to receive the approval include Madurai-Kottayam railway line, Thalasserry-Mysore line and Punathur-Kaaniyur line.
The updating survey for the Chengannur-Trivandrum via Adoor-Kottarakkara is yet to be completed by the railway authorities.
The state government, on the other hand, claimed that new surveys for Thakazhy-Thiruvalla, Kannur-Mattannur, Thiruvalla-Ranny-Pampa railway line, Kozhikode-Beypore, Nanjangode-Nilambur Road were progressing.
While the survey for the fourth line between Ernakulam and Shoranur stations is stated to be progressing, the survey for the Podanur-Palghat 3rd line is yet to be taken up by the authorities.
