However, if the track record of Mamata is anything to go by, then the state is simply in no position to entertain expectations of any appreciable gains.

It has been a tale of unremitting neglect for the state ever since Mamata Banerjee assumed charge as the Railway Minister. More than half the promises she made in her last budget have remained on paper.

To add insult to injury, Kerala suffered a major setback when her deputy till the recent cabinet reshuffle, Mr E Ahmed, was shifted to the External Affairs Ministry.

But Mr Ahmed must be given full credit for the things which he did for Kerala during his brief tenure as the Minister of State for Railways.

Among his achievements are the green signal for the renovation of Kozhikode railway station, redoubling of efforts to speed up doubling and electrification of the Mangalore-Shorlanur railway line. The crowing achievement was the inauguration of the Kozhikode-Thiruvananthapuram Janashatabdi Express via Kottayam. The new train will enable rail passengers from Kozhikode to reach Thiruvananthapuram in 6 hours. That is a major gain which will also catalyse the State’s economic activities.

Will this year’s rail budget be different as far as Kerala is concerned? True, various organizations have made a slew of representations to the Union Railway Minister urging her to concede the state’s long-standing demands.

It is an open secret, however, that one of the reasons why she has got away with her neglect of Kerala has been the lack of pressure the state government and MPs from the state have failed to bring to bear on her. Kerala does not enjoy the kind of clout which, for instance, neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh command despite the presence of as many as 16 ruling party MPs in Parliament. .

But if Kerala has to record any appreciable improvement in the matter of railway expansion, then the state will have to change its lackadaisical ways and get its act together sooner than later.

Among the main demands of the state are: an exclusive zone for the state, early start of the coach factory at Kanjikode in Palakkad district, laying of more railway lines to cope with the increased freight traffic the inauguration of Vallarpadam International Container Transshipment Terminal would necessitate and more train services to meet the pressing demands of rail passengers. (IPA)