THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Retired Chief Engineer of Railways Alok Kumar Verma and environmental researcher Sreedhar Radhakrishnan have withdrawn from the discussion that will be held by K-Rail here on Thursday to discuss the pros and cons of the SilverLine project. Both Alok Verma and Sreedhar were members of the panel that will speak against the project. Alok Verma was the former head of SYSTRA, which conducted the feasibility study for SilverLine. Dr RVG Menon, another member of the panel, will attend the discussion.

Alok Verma backed off from the discussion expressing displeasure at the invitation sent by K-Rail. He said that the government should invite him and not the K-Rail. He also expressed his displeasure over the government's failure to rectify the flaws in the plan document.

Sreedhar Radhakrishnan said that K-Rail was not sincere and that he did not think that he would get a chance to speak. Meanwhile, RVG Menon is of the view that he can convince the people of the criticism through the debate.

K-Rail MD V Ajithkumar told 'Kerala Kaumudi' that he would anyone could be recommended to replace those who backed out from the debate. Six people will be allowed to speak for ten minutes for and against SilverLine. All twenty invitees can comment. Metroman E Sreedharan was not invited as he was a politician. A debate among the politicians will also be called if the government allows it. Senior Railway Board member Subodh Kant Jain will respond to the earlier criticisms raised by Alok Verma.

Subodh Kant Jain, member, Railway Board Technical (Engineering) and former general manager, Central Railway, Dr Kuncheria P. Isaac, former Vice-Chancellor, Technological University, and SN Raghuchandran Nair, President, Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce, will speak in support of the project. Mohan Menon, a senior professor at the National Railway Academy in Baroda, a former Additional DRM of the Palakkad Division and former Chief Personnel Officer at the South West Railway, will be the moderator. There will be no K-Rail representatives. 20 people will be invited. The discussion will be broadcast live on channels.