silverline

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state has started efforts to include the dream project Thiruvananthapuram-Kasargod Semi High Speed ​​Rail Project (Silverline) in the PM-Gati shakti Mission of the Central Government. From now on, approval will be given for infrastructure and transport projects above Rs 500 crore through Gati shakti mission.

Projects approved by the Railways will also be scrutinized by a high-level committee comprising 14 secretaries. The Railway Board Chairman is also on the committee. The Railway Board is considering SilverLine application for final approval. The application will be uploaded to the new software of Gathishakthi. The Chief Minister will meet the Prime Minister and request him to include the project in this mission.

The state plans to implement the Rs 63,941 crore project through a public-private partnership between the railways and the state through mutual loan. 2150 crore central share and 185 hectares of railway land worth 975 crore are sought. The Center had not agreed to the Government's demand that the final approval and share of the project be announced in the Union Budget. Meanwhile, the Pune-Nashik semi-high-speed rail has been given final approval and a 20 per cent stake in the railways.

The government has already started the process of acquiring land for the SilverLine before getting the final approval from the Center. Preliminary survey of stone laying in areas where social impact study is to be conducted is in progress. A budget of Rs 2,000 crore has been sanctioned from KIIFB for land acquisition. The final survey for land acquisition will be done after the final approval. Land acquisition costs Rs 13,700 crore. Of this, HUDCO will provide a loan of Rs 3,000 crore. The remaining amount will be paid by the Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC). However, the loans will be available only after the final approval of the Center.

An opportunity will be provided for the MLAs to clear their doubts about the Silver Line project in the Sankaranarayanan Thampi Hall of the Assembly on March 15 at 6 pm. This is due to the complaint that details of the project are not explained to the MLAs.