Reports that the railways are backtracking from the project to increase the speed of trains by straightening the curves of the railway tracks in Kerala are disturbing. This is part of the severe neglect the state has traditionally faced when it comes to railway modernization and development projects. Non-implementation of even announced projects continues to be a curse for Kerala. Coach building, new trains and station development with state-of-the-art facilities are still a dream.

Although sharp bends have been straightened in some parts for the newly arrived Vandebharat, the lines at most places are still curvy. Only the trains in Shornur - Mangalore section run at a good speed, but not faster than 110 kmph. The railway's plan was to strengthen the tracks enough to run all trains at a speed of 130 km from the southern tip to the northern tip of the state. But the news coming out is that the railway authorities are taking a slow approach to straighten the curves from Shornur to Thiruvananthapuram. Other than Vande Bharat, most trains take more time to reach their destination due to this. The main reason why the journey from Shornur to Thiruvananthapuram in ordinary trains is still miserable is the inadequacy of the railways.

Along with infrastructure development to increase the speed of trains, there is another thing that needs to be emphasized. It is about deploying mobility coaches. Coaches of many trains running in the state are very old. The Centre has set a time limit for all types of vehicles plying on the road. It is high time that this law should be made applicable to railway coaches as well. The coaches attached to many of the carriages carrying passengers are dilapidated due to age. As soon as new coaches arrive in Kerala, there is a tendency to take them to neighboring states within weeks.

Here things seem to have an unwritten rule that passenger carriages should only run with the worst coaches. Most of these coaches are so pathetic that it looks like it can fall off the tracks at any time. The modernization plans of the railways should also include the manufacture of new coaches. If the existing coach factories are not enough, new ones should be started. It will be a venture that can provide employment to many young people. With this, the demand of Kerala, which has been clamoring for a coach factory for three decades, will also be fulfilled.

Only when the apathetic attitude shown by the railway authorities when it comes to Kerala will change will the curve in the track straighten out and the trains will run faster.