Thiruvananthapuram: In an attempt to dispel public concerns about the much-touted K-Rail Project, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan made a flurry of announcements at the SilverLine review meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday.
Key points from his speech:
• Total compensation package - Rs 13,265 crore
• Relocation package for households - Rs 4,460crore
• Land acquisition: To be completed in 2 years
• Project completion: In 3 years
• Employment generation: Jobs for 50,000 people during construction stage. 11,000 people to get jobs after project completion
• Environmental impact: K-Rail will not cut through ecologically fragile zones and wild life sanctuaries. It will not affect rivers, water bodies and paddy fields
• Measures to reduce environmental impact: 88km of the K-Rail will pass via elevated pillars
• Environmental benefits: K-Rail will help reduce carbon emission
• Will it divide Kerala into two?: It is a baseless allegation.
• Route: There will be elevated pillar and tunnels in every 500-metre stretch
• Travel time:
Thiruvananthapuram to Kollam - 22 minutes
Thiruvananthapuram - Kottayam - One hour
Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi - One hour 30 minutes
Thiruvananthapuram to Kozhikode - Two hour 40 minutes
Compensation Package
• Compensation for owners of commercial space for rent: Rs 2 lakh
• For tenants who lose rental accomodation: Rs 30,000
• For self-employed who lose jobs: Rs 50,000
• Makeshift shops: Rs 25,000- Rs 50,000
• For street vendors doing business on government land: Price of items sold and Rs 5,000 for 6 months
• For cowsheds: Between Rs 25,000 and Rs 40,000