Malappuram: “Metro Man” E. Sreedharan has moved ahead with plans for a proposed semi–high-speed rail project in Kerala, with the opening of a project office in Ponnani, Malappuram district. The office was inaugurated at 9 a.m. on Sunday by his wife, Radha, who formally opened the facility by lighting a traditional lamp. Speaking on the occasion, Sreedharan said the office would initially function as a public outreach centre aimed at explaining the proposed project to local residents and addressing their concerns. He said that engaging directly with people and earning their trust was central to the approach being adopted. According to him, detailed interactions with the public would take place before the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR).
DPR timeline begins in February with a June completion target
Sreedharan said public meetings would begin from February 15, starting in Malappuram district. These meetings, he said, would later be extended to other districts through which the proposed rail line is expected to pass. The objective of these interactions would be to ensure public participation, explain the technical and social aspects of the project, and clarify doubts before formal surveys and DPR-related work commence.
“The office has been opened and staff have been appointed, though not all of them have joined yet. Official work will begin from today,” Sreedharan said. He added that employees would be briefed on tasks that need to be completed on priority, including preparatory work related to the DPR. The aim, he said, is to begin field-level work by April and complete the preliminary phase by June 1. He also noted that an agency to carry out parts of the project would be selected in due course.
According to Sreedharan, broad decisions have already been taken regarding the number of stations required for the proposed rail line. However, crucial technical aspects, such as whether sections of the line would be elevated or underground, would be finalised only after field inspections. A detailed station-to-station plan would be prepared based on these studies. “The people living in the project areas must be taken into confidence. Their trust has to be earned,” he said. He clarified that the initial survey would be conducted manually and that no yellow boundary markers would be placed at this stage. Decisions related to land acquisition would be taken only after consultations and surveys are completed. He said the proposed track would require a width of about 20 metres and assured that every effort would be made to minimise inconvenience to local residents.
Sreedharan claimed that Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav had asked him to prepare the DPR for the project. However, he acknowledged that there had been no official confirmation from the Railways or the Union Minister so far. The Kerala government, too, has stated that it has not received any formal communication regarding such a project.
This assumes significance as Kerala was not included in the seven high-speed rail corridors announced in the Union Budget recently. Responding to this, Sreedharan said preparatory work would nevertheless begin immediately. He reiterated that the project would be implemented without causing hardship to the public and that inspections would be conducted at locations identified for stations, following due survey procedures. Sreedharan argued that these steps would help convince local communities about the viability and benefits of the project. Once the surveys are completed and confidence is built, land acquisition procedures will follow, he said. According to him, starting preparatory work in advance was necessary because of delays in receiving an official announcement on the project.
Thiruvananthapuram–Kannur semi-high-speed rail proposal
The proposal put forward by Sreedharan envisages a semi–high-speed rail corridor from Thiruvananthapuram to Kannur, connecting all three airports in the state. Soon after he made this proposal public, the state government announced a separate high-speed rail project from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod. Meanwhile, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav is scheduled to hold a press conference later today, where he is expected to clarify the Centre’s position on high-speed rail connectivity in Kerala.
Reiterating his earlier statements, Sreedharan said meetings with the public would commence on February 15, with Malappuram hosting the first round of interactions. “With the opening of this office, official work on the high-speed rail project begins today,” he said, adding that staff would join in phases and be given clear instructions on their responsibilities.
He stressed that the project would move forward only in a manner that benefits local communities. “Whatever we do should not cause harm to the people. If problems arise, they must be resolved through discussion and then we should move forward. Time is money in a project like this, and things need to progress quickly,” he said. Expressing confidence in his team’s experience, Sreedharan said he had successfully prepared the DPR for the Konkan Railway in the past and was confident of doing the same for this project. He reiterated that field work would begin in April and that the alignment of the track would be finalised based on on-ground studies.
At present, he said, it has been broadly decided that around 22 stations would be required along the proposed route. The exact locations of these stations and their design features would be finalised through field-level assessments. He added that field work related to the project would be completed before June, following which detailed survey procedures would begin.
Sreedharan again underlined the importance of public trust. “If people trust us, there is no need to fear opposition. Surveys will be carried out with the involvement of local people. Only after deciding which land is required will we calculate the cost,” he said. For now, he reiterated, no yellow markers would be installed.
He maintained that the project would be advanced while taking into account the concerns of affected residents. He also claimed that the Railways were proceeding as per the Minister’s instructions and that there was no immediate need to inform the state government at this stage. According to him, all objections could be addressed through dialogue and fair compensation. “The highest possible price will be paid for land acquisition. People will come forward and say, ‘Take my land,’” Sreedharan said.
