Despite protests against Kerala’s SilverLine project Kerala government remains firm on implementing the project.
What is the SilverLine project?
The proposed 529 km SilverLine is a semi high-speed railway project executed by the Kerala Rail Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL) at a cost of over Rs 63,000 crore.
It will link Thiruvananthapuram in the south to Kasaragod in the north. The deadline for the project is 2025.
It covers 11 districts through 11 stations. One can travel from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram in less than four hours at 200 km/hr.
On the existing Indian Railways network, it now takes 12 hours.
KRDCL, or K-Rail, is a joint venture between the Kerala government and the Union Ministry of Railways created to execute big railway projects.
The line is expected to be constructed using equity funds from the Kerala government, the Centre and loans from multilateral lending agencies.
What are its key features?
According to K-Rail, the project will have trains of electric multiple unit (EMU) type, each with preferably nine cars extendable to 12.
A nine-car rake can seat a maximum of 675 passengers in business and standard class settings.
The trains can run at a maximum speed of 220 km/hr on a standard gauge track
At every 500 metres, there will be under-passages with service roads.
The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has offered one acre for the station there.
What are the benefits of the project?
Take a significant load of traffic off the existing stretch.
Make travel faster for commuters
Reduce congestion on roads and help reduce accidents.
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
Expansion of Ro-Ro services
Produce employment opportunities
Integrate airports and IT corridors
Enable faster development of cities it passes through.
Why are there protests against the project?
Various Political parties as well as citizen outfits such as K-Rail SilverLine Viruddha Janakeeya Samiti have been spearheading separate protests.
Though the project will upgrade the railway infrastructure, people raise the following concerns
financial viability.
Affordability of the train service given the cost of building it
debt-ridden nature of state economy.
environmental and social impact.
ecological cost at a time the state is tackling climate change.
the route cuts through precious wetlands, paddy fields and hills.
Displacement of over 30,000 families.
Rehabilitation of people.
Building embankments on either side of the line will block natural drainage and cause floods during heavy rains.
Lack of consultation.
Despite these protests Kerala government remains firm on implementing the project.
Where does the project stand now?
The Cabinet gave its approval in June this year.
The state government has begun the process of land acquisition.
Out of 1,383 hectares needed to be acquired, 1,198 hectares will be private land.
The Cabinet has also approved administrative sanction of Rs 2,100 crore from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), the central investment arm of the government.
The Centre has only given an in-principle approval to the project.
A detailed project report (DPR) was released by the government following demands by opposition parties and activists.
