Kerala’s K-Rail: Centre Asks State Government To Resolve Key Issues For Swift Project Clearance

The Kerala government’s ambitious K-Rail semi-high-speed rail project is back on track, with the Central government indicating that the project can proceed if the state addresses certain technical and environmental design issues.

This announcement brings renewed optimism for the multi-crore initiative, which has previously faced delays due to public opposition, environmental concerns, and a lack of federal approval.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently discussed the matter with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in New Delhi. "I requested the Chief Minister to address any technical and environmental issues in the K-Rail design as quickly as possible, so we can move forward," Vaishnaw said. He emphasised that the Centre’s support is in line with its commitment to cooperative federalism.

The project involves the construction of a 529.45-kilometre-long semi-high speed rail corridor connecting the northern-most Kasaragod district with the state’s capital, Thiruvananthapuram, in the south, and running “semi-high-speed trains” at an operating speed of 200 km per hour.

The project is estimated to cost Rs 63,940.67 crores. Once operational, the SilverLine could drastically reduce travel time along Kerala’s north-south corridor to under four hours, a significant decrease from the current 12-14 hours, by connecting major cities across the state, reports The New Indian Express.

The corridor is to pass through 11 of the 14 districts of Kerala and will be implemented by the Kerala Rail Development Corporation (K-Rail), a joint venture between the Ministry of Railways and the Kerala government.

While proponents highlight the potential for transformative statewide transit, the SilverLine has encountered substantial opposition from various political parties, including the Congress and BJP in Kerala.

Critics argue that the project could displace numerous families living along the proposed route and raise concerns about its environmental impact.

In addition to the K-Rail initiative, Minister Vaishnaw confirmed the Centre's commitment to advancing the Sabari rail project, which will connect Angamaly and Erumely as per the original alignment.

He noted that the Kerala government has recently submitted a letter outlining specific conditions for this project. "We will soon send a format for Kerala to fill, similar to the process with Maharashtra. Once completed, the Sabari rail project can advance," he stated.