The newly formed UDF government in Kerala, led by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, is planning to implement a new high-speed rail project in partnership with the Central Government. This project comes as an alternative to the controversial SilverLine (K-Rail) project proposed by the previous LDF administration, which the UDF government had scrapped shortly after coming to power.

The proposed high-speed rail network aims to connect the northern and southern ends of Kerala, significantly reducing the travel time between Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur to just three and a half hours. The plan includes operating trains with 12 coaches capable of carrying up to 800 passengers at a time. While the government promises a more environment-friendly approach, the announcement has sparked intense political debate, especially since the UDF had previously protested against the SilverLine project’s land acquisition and survey stones.

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CPIM State Secretary M.V. Govindan criticized the UDF’s move, demanding an apology for scrapping the original SilverLine project, though he stated that the CPIM would not oppose the new project solely for political reasons. Meanwhile, the Anti-K-Rail Committee has raised concerns, urging a thorough study of the environmental impact and warning of potential protests if the project disrupts local lives. They also highlighted Metroman E. Sreedharan’s suggestion that doubling the existing railway lines would be a more practical solution.