The Kerala government's K-Rail semi-high-speed rail project has resurfaced in the news after the Centre indicated that it could proceed if the state addresses technical and environmental issues in the design. The multi-crore project, aimed at enhancing travel efficiency across Kerala, had been paused due to strong opposition from various parties, public protests, and lack of approval from the union government.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that he had recently discussed the project with Kerala's Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, during a meeting in New Delhi. He mentioned advising the Chief Minister to resolve the outstanding design issues promptly, enabling the project to move forward, while emphasising the NDA government’s support for cooperative federalism.
The minister also reaffirmed the Centre's commitment to building the Sabari rail line from Angamaly to Erumely along its original alignment. He noted that the state government had recently sent a letter with specific conditions attached. In response, the Centre plans to send a standard format for Kerala to complete, following a procedure previously used with Maharashtra. Once Kerala fills out this format, the Sabari rail project could commence.
Additionally, Vaishnaw stressed the importance of a unified approach to developing Kerala's rail infrastructure. He recently inspected the Aluva-Kozhikode section, accompanied by R N Singh, General Manager of Southern Railway, and other senior officials. They conducted a comprehensive review of railway infrastructure, examining key projects and recent developments along the section.
The minister also reviewed redevelopment works at Thrissur Railway Station, for which Rs 3.93 billion has been allocated, according to an official statement.
The K-Rail project, also known as the SilverLine, is a semi-high-speed rail corridor that aims to shorten travel time along Kerala's north-south axis to under four hours, compared to the current 12-14 hours. The proposed 530-kilometre route from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod would be developed by K-Rail, a joint venture between the Kerala government and the Ministry of Railways. However, opposition parties, including the Congress and BJP in Kerala, have criticised the project, arguing it would lead to displacement of many families.
