Kerala revives High-Speed Rail ambitions; 'Metroman' E. Sreedharan submits new blueprint to CM
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a significant policy shift, the Kerala government is actively reviving plans for a high-speed rail corridor to replace the scrapped and highly controversial SilverLine semi-high-speed project. The new initiative will be executed in partnership with Indian Railways and guided by the expertise of renowned 'Metroman' E. Sreedharan.
In a high-level meeting held at the state Secretariat, Sreedharan submitted a Detailed Project Report for the proposed Thiruvananthapuram–Kannur high-speed corridor to Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan.
The blueprint was drafted following specific directives from Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Recognising the Central Government's keen interest in the project, the state government has signalled its full cooperation. Chief Minister Satheesan assured Sreedharan that the proposal would be placed before the State Cabinet within the next 15 days for a formal review. Sreedharan has guaranteed that the entire project can be completed within a five-year window, provided swift regulatory clearances are obtained from the Centre.
Learning from the missteps of the previous SilverLine project—which sparked widespread public protests due to invasive land surveys and boundary-marking in residential zones—the new proposal focuses heavily on minimising social and environmental disruption.
The project will utilise a minimal land footprint by relying entirely on underground tunnels and elevated corridors, thereby eliminating standard surface-level land acquisition. Elevated sections will require a narrow right-of-way of just 20 meters. Crucially, any land utilised during the construction phase will be restored and handed back to the original landowners once work concludes.
High-speed connectivity at affordable fares
The proposed 465-kilometer rail network will seamlessly link three of the state's major airports. Operating at speeds of 180 km/h, trains will slash the travel time between Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur to just 3 hours and 20 minutes. The corridor is slated to feature 22 stations, strategically placed at intervals of 20 to 30 kilometres.
Sreedharan emphasised that the project is designed for the masses, noting that ticket pricing will be kept lower than existing Indian Railways AC Chair Cars and Vande Bharat services, making rapid transit highly affordable for ordinary citizens.
Future expansions and economic benefits
While the primary blueprint addresses the Thiruvananthapuram–Kannur stretch, Sreedharan briefed the Chief Minister on multi-phase expansion possibilities. Proposed future routes include extensions from Kannur to Mangaluru and Kozhikode to Kalpetta, along with feeder lines from Pattambi and Thrissur to Palakkad, and a connection to Guruvayur. Southern extensions could also eventually link Pathanamthitta to Pamba and Thiruvananthapuram to Parassala.
The network is projected to transition nearly 30,000 daily commuters from road transport to rail, yielding an estimated annual fuel savings worth ₹3,500 crore.
The total capital expenditure for the mega-project is pegged at ₹54,000 crore. The financial structuring will rely heavily on government equity, with 70 percent of the cost shared between the administration hubs. The Central Government is expected to contribute ₹20,171 crore, while the State Government will provide ₹19,380 crore. The remaining 30 percent of the budget will be mobilised through market loans and bonds.
Further bilateral discussions between the state administration and Sreedharan are scheduled to commence immediately following the upcoming Cabinet review.