THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government is gearing up to issue an order to set up special cells to acquire land for the semi high-speed rail project. The file is under the consideration of the Chief Minister. Administrative approval will be given next week.

At least 80 per cent of the land must be acquired in order to avail loan from international agencies such as ADB, JICA and AIIB. There is a provision for land acquisition for projects with the in-principle approval of the central government. It is in this context that the authorities are commencing the acquisition process before getting the Centre's final approval. 1226 hectares of land is to be acquired in 11 districts. This will take at least two years. The length of the railway line is 529.45 km through eleven districts.

K-Rail had replied to the queries raised by the Kochi Railway Chief Engineer's Office in last June regarding the alignment and project cost. . The Southern Railway and the Railway Board did not raise any doubts later. K-Rail has commissioned the rights agency of the Central Government to study some of the references made by NITI Aayog. An explanation will be given to the NITI Aayog next week.

K-Rail MD V Ajithkumar said the land would be acquired at a compensation of two to four times the market price. 15 to 25 meters wide space is sufficient for semi high-speed rail. There is an 88 km long flyover to avoid paddy fields and buildings. The semi high-speed rail will pass through a tunnel in Kozhikode city.

Although the project report of Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode Light Metro has not been sent to the Center, the land is being acquired for the depot and Sreekaryam, Ulloor and Pattom flyovers.