Hey Prabhu, It's A Dampener Again!
Despite Rail Ministry's Stress On Doubling And Modernization, Actual Allocation For State Falls Much Lower
Even though the stated priorities of the railway budget like doubling, enhancing of speed and modernization are in sync with the developmental concerns of Kerala, the actual allocations in these areas seem to be far below the requirements.
Railway development in Kerala has been crippled for several years mainly due to delays in completion of doubling of tracks and lack of initiative to enhance the capacity of existing lines through measures like automatic signalling.There was actually no real possibility of introducing new trains in Kerala unless doubling work was completed and the speeds of existing trains enhanced.
So hopes naturally went up among passengers and officials in Kerala when the railway minister announced that doubling, enhancement of capacities and speed of passenger and goods trains through modernization would be his priorities, earmarking over Rs 96, 000 crore for these areas.
However, Kerala failed to receive a proportionate increase from this quantum leap of allocation. Even according to the most optimistic assessment, Kerala has got only around Rs 450 crore for doubling works, which is the most vital requirement for the state and for which at least Rs 1,000 crore would be required. In the new lines, only the Angamaly-Sabari line found mention with an allocation of Rs 5 crore, while the project is estimated to cost over 1,559 crore.
Introduction of automatic signalling which would have entailed an investment of Rs 200 crore was essential for speeding up existing trains, but the budget doesn't even mention it. Experts point out that development of mass transport systems like trains for short distance travel is vital for a state like Kerala where land acquisition for road development is next to impossible.
Allocation for Kanjikode rail coach factory is a meagre Rs 10 lakh, as against its estimated cost of Rs 514 crore .Similarly , the proposal to set up a railway yard at Nemom also finds no mention. The number of railway overbridges (ROBs) sanctioned is less than 10 whereas there are about 100 ROBs between Alappuzha and Ernakulam alone. Another setback will be the hike in freight charges, but the decision not to enhance passenger fares is welcome. Increased allocation for enhancing security of women is also a good move.
The major challenge for Kerala will be the budget's emphasis on participation of states in railway projects.
However, with its massive non-resident population, the state will be able to facilitate private participation in railway projects through innovative schemes, experts opined.
...COMMUTERS HAIL IT AS PRO-DEVELOPMENT
Various passenger associations reviewed the Rail Budget-2015 as a pro-development one. P Krishnakumar, general secretary, Thrissur railway passengers association, said that the budget focuses on basic infrastructure development by giving top priority for electrfication, track doubling, gauge conversion, etc. “At the same time, there is no mention about the automatic signalling system which would have been a real boost for speeding up the railway services in the state,“ he pointed out.
Edappally railway passengers asoociation convenor R D Manikandan said that the announcement of ensuring punctuality will be really helpful for regular passengers. “Also, the decision to improve passenger amenities in small stations is a welcome move,“ he said.
(Times of India dt 27-2-2015)
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