Kerala's third Vande Bharat Express faces 'roadblock' from official level

Wednesday 17 April, 2024 | 2:05 AM READ MALAYALAM VERSION

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After announcing a third Vandebharat train in Kerala in February, a lobby among the railway officials want to stop it from materializing. When the other two existing Vande Bharat trains are making profits, the officials are trying to stop the Bengaluru-Ernakulam train by making lame excuses.

The main reason they say is that there is no facility and staff to stop the train at Ernakulam, where the train should be cleaned and refueled. It is also pointed out that though the electrification of the pitline constructed in Ernakulam for Vande Bharat was completed but the safety certificate was not issued saying there was a fault in the construction. However, it is alleged that this is a part of shifting the train to Tamil Nadu or elsewhere.

The train was delivered last March but was returned. It was brought back last week. As the officials claim that Ernakulam has no facilities, the train is stationed at Kollam. There is concern that the train will be returned again. There is no answer to the question whether the service should be extended to Thiruvananthapuram if there is no facility in Ernakulam. Although the train services in Kerala are profitable, it is likely that a lobby is behind this.

Promises not fulfilled

Railways have promised to increase the speed of trains by straightening curves, more trains will be run once the double track work is completed on the Kottayam route, to extend train up to Ernakulam to Kottayam, facilities will be provided at Nemom and Kochuveli to reduce congestion at Thiruvananthapuram station, and the signaling system will be upgraded, but these promises have not been fulfilled. As per the plan of the central government, only the renovation work of the stations is going on.

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