BJP state president K Surendran said the central allocation will give a big boost to the development of railways in Kerala. “The Centre is committed to making the Nilambur-Nanjancode line and the Sabarimala line a reality. But, there is inaction on the part of the state government,” he said.

Earlier, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed disappointment at the budget ignoring the key demands of the state -- the semi-high-speed rail project and a coach factory.

The Centre and state governments have blamed each other for the slow progress of rail projects in Kerala, especially with regard to the delay in execution of track doubling and the Sabari rail project.

Vaishnaw claims that the state government has acquired only 13% of the land required for railway development, while the state maintains that 65% of the required land has been made available.