KOCHI: The Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod SilverLine will be connected to the National Highways, waterways and Metro Rail. The SilverLine is being connected to all modes of transport for passengers to reach and return to the stations at their convenience, K-Rail Managing Director V Ajithkumar said.

He was explaining about the project at the 'Janasamaksham SilverLine' event organized in Kochi. Metro rail and National Waterway will be connected to Kakkanad station at Ernakulam. There are plans to connect the line to the waterway at Thiruvananthapuram. Passengers will be provided with the required parking facilities.

The DPR will be published

A detailed project report (DPR) will be published once final approvals are received, including from the Central Government. There is nothing to hide. The DPR need not be published until final approval is obtained. The DPR is a commercial document. There are favorable orders of the court and the Information Commissioner regarding the disclosure of this. All permitted information, including rehabilitation, is published on the website.

Steps have been taken by the district collectors to conduct a community impact study. The study can be started only after the place is divided. If you want to know how land acquisition will be affected, you have to do this. Based on the study, a report will be prepared up to the gram panchayat level. They will be discussed at the panchayat level. The reports will be examined by an expert committee and forwarded to the government. Necessary steps will be taken accordingly.

Convinced Niti Aayog

The issues raised by the Niti Aayog in connection with the project have been discussed. The cost of the project is Rs 63,941 crore. The Niti Aayog's claim of Rs 1,26,000 crore is not factual. The expressway costs that much. The SilverLine is a semi-high speed track. Hence the construction cost is less. The Niti Aayog has been convinced of this. The Central Government Institution RITES has examined the project report and certified it as excellent.

There will be passengers

There is no basis for worrying about getting enough passengers. A study conducted by expert agencies found that passengers will be there. A study among people using roads found that the vast majority of people want to switch to the SilverLine when it comes. SilverLine is also profitable and easily accessible to those traveling by car. He said it is more comfortable than traveling in any other vehicle and would get enough passengers.