The unfortunate war of words has resulted in delaying work on the prestigious rail projects.

While the Centre has blamed it all on the Kerala Government, the latter says the boot is on the other leg. The Minister of State for Railways, Mr. E. Ahmed, has said that the project delay is entirely due to the fresh conditions laid down by the State Government.

The VS Achuthanandan Government has countered the argument, saying that it was the U-turn executed by the Centre which has stalled start of work on the projects.

According to the Kerala Government, the UPA Government had earlier decided to set up the project in the public sector. But for reasons known only to itself, the Centre had changed its stance and decided to set it up on a BOT basis.

The State Government says it should have stakes in the project equivalent to the value of the land it has provided to the Centre for setting up the project.

Giving land amounts to giving public money. That being the case, unless a clause ensuring shares equivalent to the value of the land the State has given for the project is included, the State Government cannot part with Government land for a private project.

The delay in the Sabari rail project has also been put on the State Government. Minister of State for Railways E Ahmad says there were certain problems regarding acquisition of land for the project. Unless the issue is sorted out through discussions with the State Government, the project cannot make further advance, he said.

The Kerala Government has likewise blamed the Railway Ministry for failing to operate the new trains it had announced in the last railway budget. This is nothing but willful neglect of Kerala’s interests.

The State Government has asked all its MPs to join hands and pressure the Central Government into starting early work on both the projects which are of vital importance to the State.

Will the upcoming Railway Budget address Kerala’s concerns in this regard? Time alone can tell. (IPA)