Kerala’s average annual railway allocation has risen sharply to Rs 3,795 crore in 2026-27 from Rs 372 crore during the United Progressive Alliance period, BJP MLA V Muraleedharan said on Thursday, while citing more than Rs 20,000 crore of railway projects under way across the state.
Speaking at the Assembly media room in Thiruvananthapuram, Muraleedharan rejected claims that the transfer of some stations in the Mangaluru region from the Palakkad railway division to the Mysuru division amounted to discrimination against Kerala. He said railway divisions and zones were reorganised periodically for administrative reasons.
Muraleedharan referred to the creation of the Salem division in 2007, during the then UPA government, when 78 stations were transferred from the Palakkad division. He alleged that political parties that had remained silent at that time were now adopting double standards. The remarks came amid criticism of the recent changes involving railway administration in the region.
According to the figures cited by Muraleedharan, railway works worth more than Rs 20,000 crore are currently under way in Kerala. The projects include multi-tracking and new-line works, 145 road overbridges and underpasses, and the redevelopment of 19 railway stations. The statement did not provide a project-wise breakdown of the allocation, construction status or completion timelines.
The railway figures formed part of a wider set of remarks on governance and infrastructure made by the BJP leader. Muraleedharan also commented on the proposed resolution concerning ecologically sensitive areas, saying the BJP would not oppose it but would suggest amendments. He said the issue should account for Kerala’s environmental conditions and residents’ concerns.
Muraleedharan attributed delays in issuing the final notification to the successive state governments’ delays and the late submission of documents to the Centre. He also said that the state government’s alleged lapses in implementing National Green Tribunal orders needed to be examined before responsibility was placed solely on the Centre. The report did not include a response from the state government to these claims.
On a separate political issue, Muraleedharan asked the state government to clarify allegations concerning the family of Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan and explain what action had been taken on leads and evidence relating to four issues mentioned in a letter sent by the Enforcement Directorate to the Director General of Police. These are allegations raised by Muraleedharan and were not independently established in the report.
He also sought an explanation for the source of funds allegedly recorded in a diary for the future business plans of former minister Mohamed Riyas. Muraleedharan demanded that Vijayan step down as Leader of Opposition, describing his continuation in the post as an embarrassment to the opposition. The immediate next steps cited in the report are the proposed amendments to the ecologically sensitive areas resolution and the state government’s response to the issues raised by the BJP MLA.
