The United Democratic Front government, under Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan, has officially abandoned Kerala’s controversial SilverLine project. This decision has paved the way for a fresh debate on infrastructure and politics in the state. Satheesan, who previously led campaigns against the Rs 63,000 crore project, is now focusing on an alternative broad-gauge high-speed rail corridor.
The SilverLine project faced opposition due to concerns over land acquisition, environmental impact, and displacement issues. Satheesan, during his time as the Leader of the Opposition, strongly criticized the project, promising to eliminate it if his party came into power. The project’s adoption of standard gauge over the Indian Railways-compatible broad gauge system was also a point of contention.
The new proposal by the UDF government involves a broad-gauge semi-high-speed rail corridor that can accommodate both passenger and freight services. This corridor aims to connect Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod, covering a distance of 580 km in about four-and-a-half hours with trains running at speeds of up to 160 kmph.
The government is exploring an elevated alignment for the corridor to reduce land acquisition and environmental impact. Officials plan to consult with E. Sreedharan, known as Metro Man, for guidance before seeking approvals and technical assistance from the Railway Ministry.
Revenue Minister A. P. Anil Kumar has ordered the removal of yellow boundary stones installed during the SilverLine land acquisition process, signaling the cancellation of land acquisition proceedings. The proposed corridor is expected to enhance cargo logistics and industrial growth by integrating with the existing railway network and connecting to the Vizhinjam International Seaport.
Political observers are keen to see how the Left Democratic Front, led by Pinarayi Vijayan, reacts to the government’s decision to scrap the project that was once supported by the Left.
