Dr RVG Menon, environmental scientist and former Principal of Government College of Engineering, Kannur, urged the Kerala government to reconsider the SilverLine Project, the proposed semi-high-speed rail corridor connecting Kasaragod with Thiruvananthapuram.
Dr Menon hoped the government would draw lessons from the Kochi Metro before going ahead with the ambitious rail project.
The argument that people will switch to the faster SilverLine from the existing slow-moving express trains does not hold water. It is merely a project-based thought that will not do any good to the transportation facility.
Kochi Metro was a good idea, but was implemented as a standalone project. The project report, however, did not envisage it as a standalone plan. Commuters cannot park their vehicles at Metro stations before boarding the trains. The Metro is not coordinated with other modes of transport (feeder services). These constraints will be applicable to SilverLine as well, says Dr Menon in the second part of his interview with Manorama Online.
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Japan's interests
Japan is rapidly shifting to technology allowing trains to speed at 400 kilometres an hour (kmph). The technology used for operating trains at 200 kmph is gradually becoming outdated for them, and hence they are open to sell it. Their willingness to lend us funds at a lesser interest rate is part of their willingness to sell the old technology. We will have to repay in Japanese yen, which could create another set of problems.
War of railway engineers
There are two groups of engineers in Railways. One group is for the indegenous development of technology and becoming self-reliant. They are for building coaches in India and thereby create maximum employment opportunities. They believe that is the real development.
The second group is opposed to this line of thought. They consider it outdated. They advocate acquiring technology and equipment from wherever they are available and bringing them to the country. These two groups are locked in a war of supremacy.
The Integral Coach Factory developed the Gatimaan Express at 40% cost less than what it would have cost if procured from overseas. Harassing the engineers who developed the coaches, including scuppering their chances of promotion, are not new in the Railways.
The political leadership should take a stand on the Railways. Achieving self-reliance was not just the views of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. The 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', mooted by the current Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, envisages a self-reliant India.
Developing the technology indigenously and manufacturing products based on such technology will help us advance technologically. Additionally, it will create employment opportunities for youngsters and experts. It's a political outlook, and it's very important.
Line doubling works ignored
The Railways has a huge role in the development of transport in Kerala. Road transport has been creating several issues, especially when we consider the State's population and transportation needs of the people. Long-distance trains are ideal for Kerala. Rail traffic is more energy-efficient than road transport. Railway lines play an important role in the development of the public transport system.
The Railways has developed rapidly in Kerala over the past 50-60 years. But still, several aspects are left wanting. Earlier we had broad gauge and metre-gauge tracks. Now it is all broad gauge. Kerala is densely populated. It is not a State with a few big cities and less populated villages in between. It's densely populated throughout. This is why even express trains require frequent stops, either via Kottayam or Alappuzha.
People want express trains to stop at their local stations, and people's representatives put pressure on authorities. Consequently, trains will have to stop every 20 or 30 km. Currently, the permissible speed between Thiruvananthapuram and Chengannur is 100 kmph. Trains could touch this speed while travelling north from Ernakulam and Shoranur.
A solution that is being mooted for long is to double the railway tracks, and the railways took the initiative. The line has been doubled up to Chingavanam on the Kottayam route. The doubling works between Chingavanam and Ettumanoor is pending. On the Alappuzha route, it has been done up to Ambalapuzha. The delay in acquiring land has been cited as the major reason for holding up the further doubling work. It is the State government which should take the initiative.
The completion of doubling work will ease the traffic. The Railways, however, has asked for adding more lines and it has informed that the work of a third line on Ernakulam-Shoranur stretch will commence soon. An amount of Rs 1,500 crore was announced for the project, but it has not been granted yet. The State government and political parties should immediately intervene in the matter.
Too many curves a bane
The main constraint for fast travel is the curves on roads. Roads in Kerala have more curves due to the State's peculiar geography. The State has 41 major west-flowing rivers, and hillocks dot the area between the rivers. It's natural that the roads get more curved when they pass through this terrain. It also means that terrain restricts the speed. Solving this issue to increase the speed of trains is a challenge.
Besides allowing the third line, there should be a move to straighten sharp curves. It will require more land. At some stretches, elevated tracks may have to be considered. It has to be examined if trains could touch speeds of 160 to 200 kmph on this track. It will naturally change the development of Railways in Kerala. Such a development has been discussed, and commuters have demanded such a network.
There is also a demand for short-distance trains. Such trains will be helpful for those commuting to cities on work. The heavy rail traffic is impeding the addition of more short-distance trains.
Modernise signalling system
Another issue is the modernisation of the signalling mechanism of the railway in Kerala. Kerala now has the block system, meaning a train will get the green signal only after a train that had left earlier crossed the next station. If we have the electronic system, each kilometre will have signal points allowing trains to run every three to five minutes. It will also help in increasing the number of trains.
Wanted: Practical initiatives
It should, however, be stated that no priority is being accorded for doubling the existing tracks, and the State government has no complaints over its delay. No pressure has been put to expedite the work. The Railways says the delay in acquiring land is hampering the doubling work. Kerala has no answer to it. It's keeping mum. There is no point in clamouring that the Railways has been neglecting Kerala. The State should put pressure on both the Railways and Centre.
The Tamil Nadu government has political differences with the ruling dispensation at the Centre, but they manage to get things done by putting pressure on the central government. Why is it that we are not getting the same treatment as of Tamil Nadu? MPs from Kerala should seriously think and discuss about the development of railways in the State, and a model should be evolved. Adequate pressure should be exerted on the Railway Ministry to implement the model. Let's hope that it will happen in a phased manner.
