The State government and K-Rail are facing flak for reportedly not giving a fraction of attention that is being given to the ₹63,940-crore SilverLine semi-high-speed rail corridor project to a host of projects that K-Rail had been vested with.
Passenger organisations in the State cite half a dozen critical projects that would considerably speed up train movement in Kerala and lead to introduction of more trains as examples of projects that ought to have gained precedence over SilverLine, which has been envisaged to lessen commuting time between Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur to around four hours.
The projects which are being cited as examples include establishment of an integrated coaching terminal (which includes a railway terminal having six or more new platforms) in 100 acres of underutilised Railway land at Ponnurunni in Ernakulam, for which K-Rail had readied a feasibility report for the Railway Ministry in 2020, and 27 railway overbridge projects that had been entrusted to it.
Thrissur Railway Passengers’ Association (TRPA) general secretary P. Krishnakumar said that as a joint venture agency of the State and the Centre, K-Rail was tasked primarily with augmenting existing rail infrastructure in the State, with the State and Centre bearing the expenses. “But over time, the focus shifted to the SilverLine rail project which entails massive cost and land acquisition and the State having to bear a huge loan burden. Apart from a possible debt trap, this could result in the development of terminals at Nemom, Kochuveli, Ponnurunni (Ernakulam), Palakkad Town and at a suitable location in Malabar region, at a fraction of the cost of SilverLine, being sidelined.”
“The Railway Ministry had sought a revised estimate for the Sabari Rail project after it was entrusted to K-Rail. Likewise, the agency ought to take up pending rail works on a priority basis, which would in turn speed up train movement and lead to introduction of more trains. Long overdue projects that it must take up include doubling of a kilometre-long single-track corridor beyond Shornur, leading to Thrissur and Palakkad. Similarly, the final location survey for the 35-km Guruvayur–Thirunavaya line, which would lessen commuting time between Ernakulam and Kozhikode by 30 minutes, must be completed, to kickstart work on the project,” said Mr. Krishnakumar.
All Kerala Railway Users’ Association president Paul Manvettom said the development of a terminal station at Ponnurunni held the key to decongesting Ernakulam Junction railway station, thereby speeding up train movement in central Kerala. “Ultimately, straightening of steep curves, introduction of automatic signalling system, introduction of express trains halting only at district headquarters and MEMU trains as feeder services, held the key to speeding up train movement in Kerala at much lesser cost than the SilverLine,” he said.
Meanwhile, K-Rail sources said the agency was willing to prepare a detailed project report for the integrated coaching terminal at Ponnurunni if the Railway Ministry assigned it with the task, sources in the agency said. “The Ministry has so far allotted work on only five of the total 27 railway overbridges in Kerala to K-Rail, although it recommended that the agency execute work on all these bridges,” they said
Stating that SilverLine rail project would be a gamechanger, they said there would be speed constraints if the existing rail network was developed and the signalling system was modernised. “This is because a mixed set of passenger, express and goods trains use the existing rail network which is full of curves. The addition in number of trains and stops has slowed down the network in the State,” they added.
