Lok Sabha Question No. 2235 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: Overcrowding Trains in Kerala
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Shashi Tharoor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2235

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2025

## OVERCROWDING TRAINS IN KERALA 2235.  DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  study  to  assess  the overcrowding situation in trains running in Kerala;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has received any request from Kerala to run a third  and  a  fourth  line  between  Thiruvananthapuram  and  Mangaluru  for trains at higher speeds; and
- (d) if  so,  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government in this direction considering that  90  per  cent  of  the  trains  travelling  within  Kerala  in  the  North-South direction  connecting Thiruvananthapuram and Mangaluru are overcrowded and existing rail lines have become oversaturated?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to  (d)  On  Indian  Railways,  demand  pattern  is    not  uniform throughout the year and it varies over lean and peak periods.  During peak rush periods, the occupancy of the trains especially on popular routes  remains  full  whereas  during  lean  period  and  on  less  popular routes, there is sub-optimal utilization.

Indian  Railways(IR),  continuously  monitor  the  demand  pattern and  makes  consistent  efforts  to  cater  to  the  needs  of  travelling passengers  by  introducing  new  trains,  extending  and  increasing  the frequencies  of  existing  trains.  Loads  of  existing  trains  are  also augmented, both on temporary and permanent basis, to enhance the accommodation available for passengers.

In addition, IR also operates  Special train services during festivals, holidays, etc. to cater to the extra needs of passengers and to supplement the accommodation available by regular trains. Accordingly, to cater to the needs of Thiruvananthapuram and Mangaluru sector, IR operated 416 trips of special trains and augmented 03 pairs of trains utilising 7 coaches during 2024-2025 (till February, 2025).

To  facilitate  passengers,  presently,  two  pairs  of  trains  viz. 06031/06032  Shoranur  -  Kannur  Passenger  Special  and  06169/06170 Kollam - Ernakulam MEMU Express specials have been operationalised w.e.f 01-11-2024 and 07-10-2024 respectively, which are in addition to the 14 regular trains serving the sector.

Railway projects are surveyed/ sanctioned/executed Zonal Railway wise and not State-wise/District-wise as the Railways' projects may span across State boundaries/District boundaries.

Final Location Survey (FLS) for 3rd & 4th line between Mangaluru -  Shoranur  and  3rd  line  between  Shoranur  -  Ernakulam  -  Kottayam  Thiruvananathpuram has been sanctioned.

Sanctioning  of  Railway  projects  is  a  continuous  and  dynamic process  of  Indian  Railway.  Railway  infrastructure  projects  are  taken up  on  the  basis  of  remunerativeness,  traffic  projections,  last  mile connectivity,  missing  links  and  alternate  routes,  augmentation  of congested/saturated lines, socio-economic considerations etc. depending  upon  liabilities  of  ongoing  projects,  overall  availability  of funds and competing demands.

Budget  allocation  for  infrastructure  projects  and  safety  works, falling fully/partly in the State of Kerala is as under:

| Period   | Outlay                           |
|----------|----------------------------------|
| 2009-14  | ₹372 crore/year                  |
| 2024-25  | ₹3,011 crore (more than 8 times) |

Though  fund  allocation  has  increased  manifold  but  pace  of execution  of  project  is  dependent  on  expeditious  land  acquisition. Railway acquires the land through State Government and the completion  of  a  railway  project  is  dependent  of  land  acquisition. However, execution of important infrastructure projects falling fully/partly  in  the  State  of  Kerala  are  held  up  due  to  delay  in  land acquisition.  Status  of  land  acquisition  in  the  State  of  Kerala  is  as under:

| Total Land required for Projects in Kerala   | 475 Ha       |
|----------------------------------------------|--------------|
| Land Acquired                                | 66 Ha (13%)  |
| Balance Land to be acquired                  | 411 Ha (87%) |

Government of India is geared up to execute projects, however success depends upon the support of Government of Kerala.  Railway had  deposited  ₹2111.83  crore  for  land  acquisition  to  Government  of Kerala.

Support of the Government of Kerala is needed to expedite the land  acquisition.  For  instance,  details  of  some  major  projects  which are delayed due to land acquisition are as under:-

|   SN | Name of the project                        |   Total land required (in Ha) |   Land acquired (in Ha) |   Balance Land to be acquired (in Ha) |
|------|--------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------|---------------------------------------|
|    1 | Angamali - Sabarimala new line (111 Km)    |                        416    |                   24.4  |                                391.6  |
|    2 | Ernakulam - Kumbalam Patch Doubling (8 Km) |                          4.2  |                    1.59 |                                  2.61 |
|    3 | Kumbalam - Turavur Patch Doubling (16 Km)  |                         10.3  |                    5.3  |                                  5    |
|    4 | Trivandrum - Kanyakumari Doubling (87 Km)  |                         40.15 |                   32.69 |                                  7.46 |
|    5 | Shoranur - Vallathol Doubling (10 Km)      |                          4.77 |                    0    |                                  4.77 |

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