Title - | Railway investment 'urgently needed' for Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: According to news reports, Rail Budget 2013-14 will focus chiefly on providing more amenities to passengers. The report says Railways is planning to launch 100 trains including AC double-deckers, new passenger services and extension of trains to satisfy popular demand.

Sources said that Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Banasal's maiden budget was likely to announce measures for maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in trains and stations, providing quality linen, upgradation of fire fighting equipments and improved services  for differently able persons etc.

Under the Rolling Stock Programme of Railways, 4,200 new coaches including 600 LHB coaches will be manufactured. While provision for manufacturing of 670 new locomotives including 20 LNG locos will be made, the budget will also account for manufacturing of about 16,000 new wagons. Sources said that while services of some express trains have been extended, frequency of certain popular trains have also been increased keeping the demand of people's representatives in mind.

The passengers in Kerala, who are disappointed with last year's budget and unfulfilled promises made over the years, hope that Railways would fulfill at least their previously made promises. Lack of train services for local and long distance passengers, trains disruptions and delays, delay in general services due to staff shortage, lack of general compartments and increased fares are some of the problems faced by rail passengers in Kerala. Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi failed to address the infrastructural needs of the state in his 2012-13 Railway Budget.

Citing shortage of rakes as a reason, Railway has not begun the trains that was proposed in the last budget. The track doubling work along Ernakulam-Kottayam and Ernakulam-Alappuzha-Kayamkulam lines, which are highly congested, is moving at snail's pace. In order to run new trains through these line, doubling of tracks has to be speeded up.

Women are increasingly worried about their safety. In spite of many tragic incidents, Railway has not done enough for their protection. Railway has shunted the responsibility of women’s safety to Kerala Police - state government is now deputing policemen in ladies coaches.