The development of railway infrastructure in Kerala is facing significant delays due to issues in land acquisition, as highlighted by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in his recent letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Here are the key points of the issue:
Major Railway Projects Delayed in Kerala
- Projects Impacted:
- Doubling:
- Thiruvananthapuram-Kanyakumari
- Ernakulam-Kumbalam
- Kumbalam-Turavur
- New Line: Angamali-Sabarimala
- Doubling:
- Current Status:
- Total Land Required: 470 hectares
- Land Acquired: 64 hectares (less than 15%)
- Funds Paid by Centre: ₹2,100 crore
- Cost of Projects in Progress: ₹12,350 crore.
Railway Minister’s Concerns
- Vaishnaw pointed out that land acquisition delays are holding back the execution of critical projects.
- The Centre has already released substantial funds, but acquisition progress remains slow.
- The minister requested the Kerala government to expedite the process and provide support and cooperation to avoid further delays.
Silver Line Project Dispute
The Kerala government’s flagship Silver Line project from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod has also faced hurdles:
- Deficiencies in Detailed Project Report (DPR):
- Identified by Kerala Rail Development Corporation Ltd (KRDCL), a joint venture between the Kerala government (51%) and the Railway Ministry (49%).
- Key issues include:
- Lack of alignment with broad gauge standards.
- Inadequate integration with the existing Indian Railways network.
- Environmental concerns and technical gaps.
- Missing provisions for speed potential of 160 km/h, proper drainage systems, and electrification standards (2×25 kV).
- Absence of safety features like KAVACH.
- Current Status:
- The project has not been sanctioned yet.
- KRDCL has been advised to revise the DPR in line with modern technical and safety standards.
Kerala Government’s Stance
The Kerala government has expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of railway projects, blaming the ministry for delays and lack of clearance for the Silver Line project.
Challenges and Way Forward
- For Land Acquisition:
- Kerala needs to address local resistance, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and compensation disputes.
- The state government must prioritize these projects by issuing directives to expedite the process.
- For the Silver Line Project:
- A revised and compliant DPR addressing the deficiencies highlighted by the Railways is crucial.
- Environmental and safety concerns must be adequately addressed to secure approval.
- Enhanced Coordination:
- Both the Centre and the Kerala government must work collaboratively to ensure timely execution of infrastructure projects.
These delays highlight the critical need for streamlined processes and better cooperation between state and central governments to boost infrastructure development in the region.
