Vande Bharat, K-Rail to go hand in hand; central govt's new proposal for Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Silver Line Rail Corridor from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram is the vanity project of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The anomalies in DPR, alignment issues and Congress's disapproval of the project delayed works while the central government's decision to refuse approval seemed like the final nail in the coffin. However, there was more than what meets the eye.

Now, the central government has given the yes nod for the government to move ahead with the project, if only the state is willing to conform to the conditions. A new DPR needs to be submitted while there also needs to be gauge change and alignment change in the new model. It is informed that the Railway Board's letter mentioning these matters will be forwarded to the Southern Railway and Kerala Government soon.

However, there lies a new roadblock. The proposed changes will also ensure that the total project cost exceeds far more than the previously planned one. According to the central government’s proposal, the Vande Bharat and goods train should run on the track made for the K-rail project. The land for Silver Line will be given only after railways complete their formerly announced four-lane project.

• The alignment should be arranged in a way that the Silver line tracks are only on one side of the existing railway line.
• Interchange facility for Silver line with the existing track after passing certain kilometres.

Vande Bharat trains will be faster if they run on the Silver Line route. Vande Bharat can run Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod distance in three and a half hours if it gets a track capable of reaching a speed of 200 kmph.

Even though Kerala has demanded more Vande Bharat trains, it is unlikely the centre would allow any minding the dearth in track.