Kerala Minister Accuses Union Government of Undermining Nemom Railway Terminal Project
Thiruvananthapuram: In a sharp critique of the central administration, Kerala's Minister for General Education and Labour, V Sivankutty, has vehemently condemned the Union government for significantly scaling down the ambitious satellite railway terminal project at Nemom. The minister has issued a firm demand that the project be executed strictly according to its original master plan, asserting that any deviation is detrimental to the state's railway infrastructure development.
Allegations of Deliberate Undermining and Plan Dismantling
Addressing the media on Tuesday, Minister Sivankutty articulated his concerns with clarity and force. "The Union government is deliberately undermining this crucial project, which is absolutely essential for the comprehensive railway development of Kerala," he stated emphatically. He elaborated that the railway authorities have implemented changes that effectively dismantle the original master plan, stripping the project of its intended scope and utility.
The minister provided specific financial and structural details to illustrate the scale of the reduction. "Initially, a comprehensive and fully-featured project worth Rs 350 crore was anticipated and planned. However, the estimate for the second phase has been drastically and inexplicably reduced to a mere Rs 97 crore," Sivankutty revealed. This represents a cut of over 72% from the original budget, raising serious questions about the project's viability.
Substantial Reduction in Critical Infrastructure
The downsizing is not merely financial but extends to the core infrastructure components. According to the minister's disclosure, the original master plan included the construction of 5 pit lines and 10 stabling lines, which are critical for train maintenance and operations. This has been severely curtailed to just 2 pit lines and 3 stabling lines in the revised plan.
"By systematically eliminating these essential facilities for train maintenance, the Union government has effectively rendered the Nemom terminal project irrelevant and functionally inadequate," Sivankutty argued. He emphasized that this reduction compromises the terminal's primary purpose and operational capacity.
Parliamentary Evasion and Historical Context
The minister also leveled serious allegations regarding a lack of transparency and accountability at the parliamentary level. He accused the railway ministry of evading substantive questions in Parliament. "The response provided by the Minister for Railways to the pertinent questions raised by MP John Brittas in the Rajya Sabha was highly irresponsible and non-committal," Sivankutty charged. He further noted that the central government has maintained a conspicuous silence regarding the specific changes made from the Detailed Project Report (DPR) that was submitted in 2021.
Providing historical context, Sivankutty reminded that the project was first announced in the 2011-12 railway budget. The foundation stone was ceremoniously laid by the central railway minister just prior to the 2019 general elections. "To backtrack and dilute such a significant project after the symbolic act of laying the foundation stone is not only disappointing but fundamentally undemocratic," he asserted.
Strategic Importance and Allegations of Regional Bias
Highlighting the project's strategic importance, the minister stressed that the Nemom terminal is essential to alleviate severe congestion at the Thiruvananthapuram Central Station, thereby improving overall rail efficiency in the capital region. He framed the issue as a matter of justice for the people of Kerala.
"The injustice being shown by the central government towards the people of Nemom and the wider population of Kerala cannot and will not be accepted," Sivankutty declared. He issued a stern warning that any move to eliminate or sideline the Nemom terminal in favour of developing infrastructure at Nagercoil Junction in Tamil Nadu would be met with strong and organized opposition.
The minister pointed to the decision to review and potentially upgrade infrastructure at Nagercoil Junction before finalizing plans for Nemom as indicative of a broader, concerning trend. "This sequence of actions clearly indicates a move to prioritize development in Tamil Nadu over the critical needs of Nemom and Kerala," Sivankutty alleged, framing the issue as one of regional equity and fair allocation of national resources.
