Rail board allows K-Rail to acquire land despite objection from Southern railway

Thiruvananthapuram: The Railway Board's decision to acquire land for the Silver Line Rail project - a semi-high speed railway line- is against the stand made by the Southern Railway.  The Southern Railway authorities opposed the project due to lack of interest in transferring railway properties which they claim are of significant importance for the development of the railway in future.  

However, the board has granted permission to survey the land owned by the railway and decide upon the area required. The Railways has issued an order in this regard. Railway officials were also directed to participate in the survey along with K-Rail officials. The survey process will be completed within two months.

The project requires 457 acres of railway land. The semi-high speed railway line runs from Tirur to Kasaragod parallel to the existing railway. At certain places, the K-Rail tracks also cross the existing railway line.

It is learnt that railway land not needed for future expansion could be used for the Silver Line project.  

It is believed that the current state of railway development in the state and the handing over of land to K-Rail will not be a major impediment.

Union min denies

Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Wednesday denied the report and said that "no such decision has been taken."

"This is false and baseless. Met Hon'ble Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw Ji and discussed it. No such decision has been taken," he tweeted.