Thiruvananthapuram: Survey stones for K-Rail's SilverLine project are being planted under the cover of the Central Railway Board's in-principle approval for finding means to mobilize funds for the semi-high-speed rail corridor.
Apart from the in-principle approval for finding funds, the Centre has not yet given its nod for the project, but the State government and Kerala Rail Development Corporation Ltd (K-Rail) are going ahead with their stone laying plan, despite stiff resistance from local residents along the entire stretch of the State.
The Left Democratic Front government in Kerala is now trying for the Centre's approval for the Detailed Project Report (DPR). Land acquistion will be possible only after the Centre approves the DPR.
The State has to acquire 80 per cent of the land required for the project to avail foreign loans. So far, only an application for approaching foreign agencies seeking loans have been approved.
SilverLine: A dateline
- December, 2015: Central Cabinet decides to form joint ventures in collaboration with State governments
- January, 2016: The Central Ministry of Railways and Kerala government sign a memorandum of understanding to form K-Rail Development Corporation
- January, 2017: K-Rail formed with Kerala holding the majority 51 per cent stake and Centre having 49 per cent
- October, 2017: Chief minister holds talks with Railway Board chairman. The meeting reaches an understanding to study the feasibility of two new railway lines between Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod
- December, 2017: K-Rail hands over the pre-feasibility report of a high-speed railway project to the Central Ministry of Railways. The Railway Board directs the State to conduct a detailed feasibility study
- August, 2019: The State Cabinet approves the project, based on a feasibility report submitted by consultancy firm SYSTRA
- October, 2019: K-Rail submits the feasibility report to the Ministry of Railways
- October, 2019: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) allows the State to carry out an aerial survey
- December, 2019: K-Rail gives a detailed presentation of the feasibility study report to the Railway Board
- December, 2019: The Ministry of Railways gives its in-prnciple approval for the SilverLine project. Directs the State to carry out preliminary works ahead of mobilizing funds
- April, 2020: Publishes the alignment of the project. Revises it after excluding Mahe, based on a government directive
- June, 2020: Submits the State Cabinet's approval for the DPR and alignment to the Ministry of Railways and NITI Aayog
- September, 2020: Southern Railway forwards the same DPR to the Railway Board after registering its objection. It asks to change the alignment between Ernakulam and Kasragod
- November, 2020: NITI Aayog expresses doubts over project costs and the proposed model for availing loans. Observes that the cost will exceed the claimed Rs 63,941 and will touch Rs 1.33 lakh crore
- December, 2020: Chief secretary and managing director of K-Rail meets Railway Board
- January, 2021: Ministry of Railways, NITI Aayog and finance department give permission to approach foreign agencies for loan
- February, 2021: Centre includes SilverLine project in the National Rail Plan. Central Budget announces that all projects in the plan will be completed by 2030
Central approval received so far:
- In-principle approval of the Ministry of Railways
- Nod to approach foreign agencies for loan
Pending approvals
- Central Railway Board, NITI Aayog, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs and Central Cabinet have to approve the DPR
- Finance department's nod for availing nod
Studies conducted so far
- Feasibility study, DPR (Traffic survey, soil testing, environmental study)
Pending studies
- Social-impact study
- Hydrological study on floods, flow of water
- Hydrographic survey to look into the depth of waterbodies along the alignment
- A K-Rail, Railways joint survey to study the project's impact on railways-owned land and other railway lines
