Kerala Government Scraps Proposed SilverLine Rail Corridor Project
The Kerala government has announced the cancellation of the Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod SilverLine rail corridor project, citing the lack of approval from the Centre.
Background on the SilverLine Project
The SilverLine project, also known as K-Rail, was a proposed 530-km semi-high-speed rail corridor connecting Thiruvananthapuram in the south to Kasaragod in the north.
Reasons Behind the Cancellation
- Lack of approval from the Centre
- Opposition from the current government
- Landowners unable to sell their land due to protests
Next Steps
The government has decided to:
- Denotify all land acquisition orders related to the project
- Remove all survey stones laid as part of the project
- Examine cases registered in connection with protests against the SilverLine project and recommend their withdrawal
Stance on Sustainable High-Speed Transport
Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan stated that the government is in favour of a sustainable high-speed transport system, but only with a proper Detailed Project Report (DPR).
Key Quotes from the Chief Minister
“The project is not taking off. The Central government has not approved it either. We had also opposed this. The people who own the land are unable to sell it. So we have decided to cancel the project.”