Vandhe Bharath and the generous budget

Tensions were in ample amounts about the central government mindfully keeping a blind eye while allotting Railway budgets to Kerala. The long unsorted obloquy to the central government has finally doused down a little after the latest Budget. Railway minister, Ashwini Vaishanav has offered solace with his latest Budget that gives Kerala more than what it asked for. The announcement of the much sought-after Vandhe Bharath Trains soon reaching the tracks of Kerala is not just news but a new glitter of hope. The minister also promised a Rs 2033 crore Budget for Kerala in the next financial year.

Meanwhile, the minister never shied from commenting on the Kerala government's vanity project K-Rail and informed that he will be soon heading south to the state to make careful deliberation with the chief minister regarding the project. But history is ripe with many such meetings between railway ministers and state heads. Unfortunately, all erstwhile meetings proved to be kaput but nothing else. So, the state officials are concerned, no less on whether these talks will bear fruit that helps in the development of railways in Kerala. From the generous budget of this time, Rs 800 crore will be allotted for the track doubling of the Trivandrum- Kanyakumari route, which has been at a standstill for so long. The Kerala government is yet to complete its land acquisition process and the report should be submitted to the central government to kickstart the work. If moved in an apt manner, the railway is confident of completing the track doubling by the end of March, next year.

The budget was also ungrudging when it allowed the continuation of work for the long yearned Angamali- Sabari track work. A Rs 100 crore is allotted for this project that has hitherto worked only up to 16 km. The total length of the track is 116 km. On another note, the COVID-induced rules are still hanging on the trains that make the Common man's travel tedious. There are thousands in Kerala who depend on the railways for their everyday life. With the Budget acting as a saving grace to Kerala, the government needs to clear all the dents and quagmires surrounding the railways and should join hands with the central government to make the long-yearned dreams a reality.