Minister claims highest-ever fund, yet smallest among Southern peers

Even promised funds might not be fully utilized

KOCHI: Despite Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s assertion that the Rs 3,011 crore allocated for rail development in Kerala is the highest ever for the state, this amount is the smallest compared to allocations for other southern states.

Karnataka received Rs 7,559 crore, Tamil Nadu Rs 6,362 crore, Telangana Rs 5,336 crore, and Andhra Pradesh Rs 9,151 crore.

There is concern that even the promised funds might not be fully utilized, as the Railways have not yet approved new projects for Kerala. The state has a long-standing wish list that includes new lines, additional tracks along existing routes, and improved facilities at major stations. This demand has been brought to the attention of the Minister and top railway officials.

No major projects are planned for Kerala

Railway officials in the state reveal that aside from the ongoing track-doubling projects—which are progressing slowly—no major new projects are planned for Kerala. The Budget has allocated Rs 1,085 crore for track-doubling for the current fiscal year, suggesting that only this portion of the Rs 3,011 crore might be used, with the remainder potentially going unutilized due to a lack of new projects.

Kerala’s rail connectivity is among the poorest in the country, and new lines have been a persistent demand. However, there has been little progress beyond initial surveys. Over the past 30 years, no new lines have been commissioned, with the last one being the Thrissur-Guruvayoor track, which was inaugurated in 1994.