K-Rail: Disparity in estimated cost identified in 2019 feasibility study and DPR

Kottayam: In an interesting revelation, the estimated cost of the K-Rail project identified in the feasibility study report of 2019 is more when compared to the cost in the detailed plan report prepared in 2020.

Production costs have been reduced by up to 74 per cent in some areas. It is not clear why there is such a decline when the prices of land and construction materials are skyrocketing.

The estimated cost of K-Rail is Rs 64,000 crore. The cost for 2019 and 2020 was calculated according to the rates of the Railway Engineering Department.

Earlier, the Finance Commission, expert Alok Kumar Verma and others have pointed out that the total cost for the project is much higher than stated in the DPR. While Alok Verma estimated Rs 1.40-1.60 lakh crore, Finance Commission pointed out that the project could cost more than Rs 1 lakh crore.