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Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has flagged land acquisition as a major constraint affecting the progress of railway projects in Kerala, noting that only about 14 per cent of the required land has been acquired so far. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, the minister said the Centre has allocated INR 3,795 crore for railway development in the state this year, a tenfold increase compared to earlier years. He underlined that several capacity expansion projects are underway, which could nearly double rail line capacity in Kerala, but stressed that progress depends heavily on support from the state government. Vaishnaw also indicated that the Centre remains open to reconsidering a high-speed rail corridor, provided environmental concerns are addressed and land acquisition moves forward.
Railway projects in Kerala continue to face execution challenges due to slow land acquisition, despite a sharp increase in central funding and multiple capacity expansion initiatives, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in the Rajya Sabha. Responding to supplementary questions during Question Hour, the minister pointed out that only around 14 per cent of the land required for ongoing and proposed railway projects in the state has been acquired so far. Advertisement
Vaishnaw said the Union government has earmarked INR 3,795 crore for railway development in Kerala in the current year, describing it as a record allocation that is nearly ten times higher than what was provided in earlier years. According to him, a large number of projects aimed at increasing railway capacity have been taken up, and once completed, these initiatives are expected to almost double the capacity of rail lines across the state, significantly improving passenger movement and connectivity.
However, the minister stressed that timely completion of these projects hinges on active cooperation from the state government, particularly in expediting land acquisition. He noted that without adequate progress on this front, it would be difficult to develop new railway lines or expand existing corridors, regardless of budgetary support.
On the issue of a high-speed rail corridor, Vaishnaw referred to the previously proposed Silver Line project and said it was not feasible in its earlier form due to significant environmental concerns. He added that the Centre remains open to reconsidering a high-speed rail proposal if the state government is willing to initiate land acquisition and address feasibility issues.
Citing the Angamali Sabarimala railway line as an example, the minister said land acquisition had begun only after sustained follow-ups with the state leadership, expressing hope that the process would continue beyond electoral considerations.
Vaishnaw also highlighted progress under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, stating that redevelopment work has been completed at about 170 stations out of 1,300 identified nationwide. He said these upgrades are being carried out while train operations continue, marking a significant transformation in India's railway infrastructure development approach.
Source - PTI
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