Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government will not immediately begin land acquisition for the proposed high-speed rail project, Chief Minister VD Satheesan said. The decision follows recommendations from an expert committee that examined the interim report submitted by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). The government will decide on the next course of action only after a detailed review of the committee's report, he said.

The committee, comprising experts in finance, railways and environmental studies along with the Transport Secretary, found that the interim report was incomplete. It noted that the report lacked reliable data on land availability and projected passenger numbers, making it insufficient for taking major decisions.

The committee cautioned against repeating the mistakes made during the K-Rail project. It recommended that no land acquisition notifications or preliminary construction activities should begin before comprehensive environmental and social impact assessments are carried out. The Chief Minister said the government would not allow the project to become an "environmental disaster" that could adversely affect Kerala's ecology and geography.

The committee also observed that the financial model proposed in the interim report is not viable. It warned that a passenger-only revenue model would impose a heavy financial burden. It recommended that the government conduct an independent study to assess the feasibility of including freight transport so that project revenues and loan repayments can be sustained.

The Chief Minister said the government would proceed to the next stage of preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) only if independent studies on alternative options, economic viability and environmental impacts establish the project's necessity. He reiterated that the government would take further decisions only after thoroughly examining the expert committee's report.