One can reach Kannur from Thiruvananthapuram in an hour on high-speed rail; ready to accept project if govt is willing, says E Sreedharan

MALAPPURAM: Metroman E Sreedharan said that a high-speed rail is needed in Kerala and if the state government is willing, ready to accept the project regardless of politics. The K Rail project proposed by the state government is not feasible. A combination of tunnel road and elevated road is suitable for Kerala. He said once this is completed, can reach Kannur in an hour from Thiruvananthapuram.

Prof K V Thomas, the special representative of the state government in Delhi, reached Ponnani the other day and held talks with with E Sreedharan. Soon the Metroman released a statement and clarified it. Sreedharan's report mentioning changes in K Rail project was forwarded to the chief minister through K V Thomas.

Sreedharan has stated in the report that a semi-high-speed rail is needed first and then it can be made high speed. The new line should be connected to the national railway line. As per the present K Rail project, it cannot be connected to the national railways. This is possible only after switching to broad gauge system. The
report said the project will be feasible only if the high-speed road is extended outside Kerala including Mangalore.

The main problem with K-rail is to carry the track parallel to the existing track and above the ground. It is not practical to acquire so much land. Thousands of people will have to be relocated. Local travel and the surroundings will be affected with the high wall separation on both sides. More than 3,000 bridges will be required to build K Rail. The expenses for this have not been included in the project. The report also pointed that there is no hope of getting permission from the Centre for K Rail.