In a significant shift for Kerala’s rail infrastructure, the Centre has decided to move ahead with a new high-speed rail project, effectively sidelining the state government’s controversial Silver Line proposal. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will spearhead the project, with veteran technocrat E. Sreedharan, widely credited for the Kochi Metro, serving as chief consultant. Officials have been instructed to proceed without delay, with a formal announcement expected within 15 days.
The proposed corridor will cover 430 kilometres from Thiruvananthapuram to Kannur, cutting travel time to just three hours and 15 minutes. The alignment will feature 22 stations and connect seamlessly with the state’s major airports — Thiruvananthapuram, Cochin, and Karipur — enhancing Kerala’s transport and logistics ecosystem. Sreedharan emphasized that elevated tracks will cover most of the route, with around 25% passing through tunnels, and land will be returned to owners post-construction.
The project aims to minimise land acquisition challenges that previously stalled initiatives like the Silver Line. Most of the corridor will run on elevated pillars, with landowners allowed continued use under stipulated conditions, reflecting a technically conservative and execution-driven approach to infrastructure development. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) is expected within nine months, with construction likely to conclude in five years at an estimated cost of ₹1 lakh crore, 30% of which will be borne by the state.
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Sreedharan also highlighted that the Nilambur–Nanjangode railway line DPR will be fast-tracked, signaling the government’s broader push to modernise Kerala’s rail network. The Centre-backed plan prioritises execution efficiency and financial viability, addressing the political and policy deadlocks that hindered previous projects.
Experts say the initiative could transform Kerala’s transport landscape, providing faster, safer, and more reliable rail connectivity for commuters and businesses. With Sreedharan at the helm, expectations are high that the project will combine technical precision with timely execution, avoiding the controversies that plagued earlier proposals like the Silver Line.
The high-speed rail project represents a decisive move by the Centre to invest in state-of-the-art infrastructure in Kerala, promising to position the state as a model for modern, sustainable rail development in India.
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