THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: 336 curves need to be avoided for the Vande Bharat train to run properly from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod. Railways have awarded the contract for the works to straighten these curves. Most of these curves will be straightened within eight months. There is no need to acquire land for this. The expense for the works is Rs 381 crore. Work will start soon.

Once the work is completed, Vande Bharat will run from Thiruvananthapuram to Ernakulam at a speed of 110 km, from Ernakulam to Shoranur at 90 km, and from Shoranur to Kasargod at a speed of 130 km. The timetable will also be revised accordingly. At present, Vande Bharat is running at a speed of 70 km per hour from Thiruvananthapuram to Ernakulam via Kottayam, 80 km per hour via Alappuzha, 70 km per hour from Ernakulam to Shoranur and 110 km per hour from Shoranur to Kasargod. This is a train that can run at a speed of up to 160 km per hour. Vande Bharat is in high demand in Kerala despite moving at a lower speed. The demand will further increase if the speed of the train increases. Railways is also hoping to bring Vande Bharat's sleeper coach to Kerala.

According to the railway report, 86 curves on the railway track from Thiruvananthapuram to Ernakulam will have to be straightened to increase the speed of Vande Bharat. No additional land should be acquired for this. Hence, there is no need to get any kind of permission from anyone for the work. Tenders have been invited to straighten these curves using machines. After this, there are some places where the curves need to be straightened after acquiring the land. The Railways will soon initiate efforts for this. Once it is completed, Vande Bharat will be able to cover the distance between Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam in just one and a half hours.

Difficult curves

There are 250 curves between Shoranur and Mangalapuram. The number of bends is 81 from Shoranur to Kozhikode, 84 from Kozhikode to Kannur, and 85 from Kannur to Kasargod. The tender has been given to straighten all these curves in eight months.