VD Satheesan scraps Kerala's controversial K-Rail project launched by LDF govt

The VD Satheesan-led Kerala government has scrapped the controversial Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod SilverLine rail corridor project, which had faced widespread public opposition during the previous Left government's tenure.

In Short

• Kerala de-notifies K-rail land acquisition processes, scraps SilverLine project
• Govt to recommend dropping cases related to protests against the project
• Project faced resistance over displacement, environmental, financial concerns

Newly-elected Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Wednesday announced that the state cabinet has decided to scrap the controversial Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod SilverLine rail corridor project, which was launched by the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. Touted as an ambitious infrastructure initiative, it had faced massive public resistance.

Addressing the media after a cabinet meeting, Satheesan said the government has directed the Revenue Department to remove all survey stones installed for land demarcation and added that all land acquisition proceedings initiated for the project, popularly called K-Rail, stand cancelled.

He also informed that the government has decided to file affidavits before courts to withdraw cases related to protests against the project across the state, after reviewing the nature of the cases. Congress was at the forefront of the protests against the semi-high-speed rail project.

Mooted in 2019 by the Pinarayi Vijayan government, the 530-km semi-high-speed railway corridor was proposed to connect the state's southern capital, Thiruvananthapuram, with its northernmost district, Kasaragod. The project faced significant public resistance, political opposition and massive protests, particularly over concerns related to land acquisition and displacement.

Following massive criticism against the project, especially in the year ahead of the recently held Assembly polls, the LDF government had quietly dropped further proceedings on the project. It also failed to secure the Centre’s approval.

The alignment for the SilverLine project required the acquisition of over 1,200 hectares of land, much of it cutting through densely populated residential areas. This triggered widespread local protests over the displacement of an estimated 10,000 families.

Environmentalists had also raised concerns that the massive embankments required to elevate the tracks for nearly 300 km would obstruct natural east-to-west water drainage patterns, potentially worsening floods in a state already vulnerable to severe monsoon flooding.

Critics further argued that the project’s financing model, with an estimated cost of Rs 63,941 crore and more than 50 per cent expected through international bilateral loans, would place a significant fiscal burden on the state.

Since the project was designed as an independent standard-gauge network, it required crucial approvals from the Union Ministry of Railways and the Central government, which were not granted. Consequently, the project was effectively shelved.

The previous Kerala government argued that the project was necessary as the existing railway lines in the state were congested, train speeds were slow due to curves and dense population, road traffic on NH corridors was worsening, and faster north-south connectivity was essential for economic growth.

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