Thiruvananthapuram: The Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the semi-high-speed railway line (silver line) from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod was approved by the Kerala Rail Development Corporation (K Rail) Board.

The new line will be constructed far from the the present railway line from Thiruvananthapuram to Tirur and then parallel to the present one till Kasaragod. The alignment in the feasibility study report is almost approved without much changes.

According to DPR, the renewed estimate cost is Rs 63,941 crore, which is about Rs 2000 crore less than the amount shown in the feasibility report. Works will be started this year and completed within five years as per plans. The DPR will be submitted to the state government, ministry of railways, Niti Aayog and union cabinet to seek permission.

The track is built as a green corridor combining two new railway lines. Trains can run at a speed of 200 kilometer per hour on this track. The silver line covers 530.6 kilometer from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod passing through 11 districts.

There will be 11 stations on the route and a new station will be opened at Kochi airport apart from Kakkanad station. The duration of journey in Thiruvananthapuram-Ernakulam area is about 1.5 hours due to heavy rush.

The DPR was prepared by Systra GC in Paris, said K Rail MD V Ajith Kumar. 52 percent of total expense will be fulfilled using loans and the rest of the amount will be managed by railway, central and state governments and financial companies. The fuel will be supplied by the solar units of the KSEB.

Electric multiple unit (EMU) with nine cars will be used in the silver line service. 675 passengers can board a train. There will be two seats on both sides in business class while standard class has three seats on one side and two on the other.