Renowned engineer E. Sreedharan has received verbal approval from Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav to begin preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for a proposed high-speed rail corridor in Kerala. Sreedharan said the planning work has already started and that an office will be opened at Ponnani on the second day to coordinate the initial activities. He clarified that the early start was necessary as formal approval from the Railway Ministry is expected to take time.
Sreedharan said the understanding on the high-speed rail line was reached when he met Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav to request the inclusion of the Nanjangud railway line in this year’s Union Budget. During that meeting, the minister gave verbal consent for the preparation of the DPR, he said.
Explaining the technical details of the project, Sreedharan said the original proposal had envisaged trains running at a maximum speed of 350 km per hour, with stations spaced at intervals of 60 to 64 kilometres. However, the revised plan now proposes a top speed of 200 km per hour, with stations located every 20 to 25 kilometres to improve accessibility. A total of 22 stations are planned along the corridor.
The proposed route will run from Thiruvananthapuram Central through Thiruvananthapuram Airport, Varkala, Kollam, Kottarakkara, Adoor, Chengannur, Kottayam, Vaikom, Ernakulam near the Palarivattom bridge, Aluva, Nedumbassery, Thrissur, Kunnamkulam, Edappal, Tirur, Malappuram near Karipur Airport, Kozhikode near the railway station, Koyilandy, Vadakara, Thalassery and finally Kannur. In the initial phase, the trains will have eight coaches with a total passenger capacity of 560. The number of coaches will be increased later, depending on passenger demand. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 86,000 crore, which could rise to nearly Rs 1 lakh crore. The Railways will bear 51 per cent of the total cost, while the Centre and the state government together will contribute around Rs 60,000 crore.
Sreedharan said the project is expected to be completed within five years, with an average construction cost of about Rs 200 crore per kilometre. He added that one of the major advantages of high-speed rail is improved safety, along with reduced travel time and lower operating costs. The high-speed corridor will be completely separate from the existing railway network and will be built on standard gauge. There will be no provision for freight or goods trains on this line. About 70 per cent of the route will be on elevated viaducts, while 20 per cent will pass through tunnels. The alignment will connect major airports along the way.
Stressing the need to avoid public opposition, Sreedharan said land acquisition will be limited strictly to what is essential. Land used for constructing pillars will be returned after completion, and agricultural activity can continue around the structures. He said there has been no discussion with the state government so far, and that the Railways is expected to make an official announcement within 15 days.
