Vande Bharat for every state, more trains and four-lane line for Kerala: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Thiruvananthapuram: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced that Kerala will soon benefit from increased train services and expanded railway infrastructure. Emphasising that the state’s rail capacity will be enhanced, Vaishnaw added that efforts are in progress to modernise railway stations while preserving the cultural identity of Kerala. He reassured that Vande Bharat train services will be extended to every state, including Kerala.

He said plans are underway to convert the Mangalore–Kasaragod–Shoranur route into a four-lane line. Upgrading the Shoranur–Ernakulam section to a three-lane track is also in the pipeline. The long-proposed Angamaly–Sabarimala route remains a priority, with the Centre pushing ahead on that front.

Speaking after a meeting with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Vaishnaw revealed that work has already commenced on the third and fourth railway lines in Kerala. He stated that several key projects were discussed in the meeting, including the land acquisition for the Angamaly–Erumeli project.

The Railway Minister also sought the state government's cooperation in acquiring land required for the proposed overbridges and underpasses allocated to Kerala.