THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala education minister V Sivankutty welcomed Vande Bharat trains, unlike his colleagues in the cabinet. The minister also shared his concern over the speed regulation in the elite trains and asked the citizens to not compare it with the touted silver line project.

Vande Bharat on its trail run took seven hours to reach Kannur from Thiruvananthapuram. Sivankutty said the duration is on par with what was achieved by Janashatbi and Rajdhani Express, with little to celebrate. The minister then elaborated on the silver line scheme and said it is a semi-speed railway line with trains shuttling services from Kasargod to Trivandrum and vice versa. He also asked the people to think about the difference it can make to end the hassles on road.

Silver Line takes more than 100 services daily while Vande Bharat runs paltry services on weekly basis. The two shouldn't even be compared, said the minister.