Kerala’s SilverLine Project

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Last Updated23/12/2021

SilverLine, a semi-high-speed railway project that would operate trains at 200 km/h between the state's northern and southern ends, has sparked protests across Kerala.
The project, which is expected to cost Rs 63,940 crore, is considered as one of the state's largest infrastructure projects.

Thiruvananthapuram in the south and Kasaragod in the north will be connected by a 529.45-kilometer route that will pass through 11 districts and 11 stations.
When the project is finished, it will take less than four hours to go from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram at 200 km/hr.
It currently takes 12 hours on the present Indian Railways network.
The project, which is being carried out by the Kerala Rail Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL), has a 2025 completion date.
KRDCL, often known as K-Rail, is a joint venture between the Kerala government and the Union Ministry of Railways that was established to carry out large-scale railway projects.

Kerala's present railway infrastructure would not be able to meet future needs.
Due to the numerous twists and turns on the current route, most trains travel at a 45 km/h average speed.
The government argues that the SilverLine project would relieve a considerable amount of traffic off the existing section and make commuter travel quicker, resulting in less congestion on the roads and fewer accidents.
The line will also assist to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, expand Ro-Ro services, create jobs, connect airports and IT corridors, and speed up the development of the cities it passes through.

The project will use electric multiple unit (EMU) trains, each having a minimum of nine cars that may be expanded to a maximum of twelve.
On a normal gauge track, the trains can travel at a top speed of 220 km/h, completing journeys in under four hours in either direction.
According to the plan, the railway line will run from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod, stopping at Kollam, Chengannur, Kottayam, Ernakulam (Kakkanad), Cochin Airport, Thrissur, Tirur, Kozhikode, and Kannur.
Three will be raised (Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, and Thrissur), one will be underground (Kozhikode), and the remainder will be at grade.
There will be under-passages with service roads every 500 metres.

The state administration has begun the process of land purchase following approval by the Cabinet in June of this year.
The Cabinet has also given administrative approval for the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), the government's central investment arm, to receive Rs 2,100 crore.
Local revenue and K-Rail officials are on the ground, demarcating land and putting boundary stones as part of the first step of acquisition.
While Kerala's chief minister has written to the Prime Minister asking his ""personal assistance"" in granting the requisite permits, the project has only received in-principle approval from the Centre.
The line is expected to be built with finances from the Kerala government, the Central government, and international financial institutions.

According to a petition signed by 17 state Opposition MPs, the project is a ""astronomical scam in the making"" that would further sink the state further into debt.
According to the petition the project was financially unviable and would result in the eviction of almost 30,000 people.
SilverLine, according to the Samiti and green groups, will destroy the environment by cutting through valuable wetlands, paddy fields, and hills.
According to the Samiti, the construction of embankments on each side of the main section of the line will obstruct natural drainage and result in flooding during heavy rains.
The Kerala Paristhiti Aikya Vedi, a group of ecologists, has asked the government to scrap the project and look for more sustainable alternatives.
The project was dubbed ""ill-conceived"" and ""poorly planned"" by E. sreedharan, former Delhi Metro head.
He stated that the current concept requires several revisions, including the fundamental track width.