THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite the government's repeated assurances that land will not be acquired for the SilverLine, the government has issued a notification dated October 8, 2021 stating that the list should be re-surveyed as part of the land acquisition. This is stated in the notification issued on October 8, 2021.

The government explained that the land acquisition will take place only after the Centre's approval and that the mentioning of survey in notification was only a technical action. The notification says that for the Kasargod semi-high speed rail project in Thiruvananthapuram, a survey should be conducted by listing from various villages in Thiruvananthapuram district as part of land acquisition.If there are obstructions to the survey, including trees, shrubs, fences or crops, the boundaries or lines should be cleared by cutting or removing within 15 days.

But the government is now defending itself on the basis of an order issued by the Revenue Department on August 18, 2021. At the end of the order, it is stated that the follow-up action on the project after revealing feasibility study report with the final approval of the Railway Board. The notification was issued two months after the order was issued. However, the order says that the land acquisition process should start only after the central approval. It is proposed to appoint a special deputy collector based in Ernakulam and 11 special tehsildars for 11 districts to acquire the land.