Kochi: Metro man E Sreedharan has expressed hope that the Kerala government will soon approve the proposed Kerala High-Speed Railway Line project. He said he received a positive response during a meeting with the Chief Minister VD Satheesan and stressed that the project would not impose any financial burden on the state government.

Speaking to Mathrubhumi, Sreedharan said an interim report outlining the project, including financial arrangements, has already been submitted to the government.

He described the project as one that could transform Kerala's future, warning that any further delay would only increase costs. He said that the proposed high-speed rail project should not suffer the same fate as the long-pending Light Metro projects proposed for Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. According to him, the Chief Minister indicated that the proposal would be discussed by the Cabinet and approved without delay. If clearance is granted soon, construction could begin this year itself.

608 buildings to be affected

The project is expected to affect a total of 608 buildings between Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur, according to preliminary assessments. Sreedharan said that after land acquisition and completion of construction, the land could be leased back to the original owners at nominal rates for agriculture and other purposes. Farming and small-scale construction would be permitted, though large-scale developments would not.

The first phase of the project will run from Thiruvananthapuram to Kannur, with a second phase later extending the line to Kasaragod.

A speed suitable for Kerala

Sreedharan argued that train services operating at speeds exceeding 200 kmph would not be suitable for Kerala's conditions, given the state's dense population and closely spaced urban centres.

The proposed fare is around ₹800, with trains running every five minutes. The system would be capable of carrying 2.28 lakh passengers daily, with each train accommodating 800 passengers in 12 coaches.

DMRC should execute project

Sreedharan said the construction of the high-speed rail corridor should be entrusted to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, as was done for the Kochi Metro. According to him, DMRC's involvement is essential for completing the project quickly and efficiently. Any other agency, he warned, could lead to significant delays, even before construction begins.

Updated report reflects current realities

Sreedharan said the newly submitted report differs in some respects from the original proposal, particularly in project cost estimates and funding mechanisms. However, there are no major changes in technology.

The trains are proposed to run on solar energy, making it the first such project of its kind in India.

The journey from Thiruvananthapuram to Kannur is expected to take 3.30 hours.

The project cost is now estimated at ₹60,000 crore, up from the earlier estimate of ₹55,000 crore. The increase is mainly due to the inclusion of solar power infrastructure, which alone is expected to cost more than ₹4,000 crore.

Of the total project cost, ₹36,000 crore is proposed to be sourced through Central and State government contributions. Taking into account Kerala's current financial constraints, the report suggests alternative funding arrangements.

The remaining ₹24,000 crore is proposed to be raised from the public through a share-based crowdfunding model, Sreedharan said.