Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government's ambitious SilverLine project has regained attention after Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal referenced it during his address at the Invest Kerala Global Summit (IKGS).

Goyal highlighted key infrastructure projects in the state, including the Vizhinjam deep-sea port, and described SilverLine as a semi-high-speed rail corridor that would connect Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod, reducing travel time to four hours.

“SilverLine, a semi-high-speed railway line connecting Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod, will reduce travel time to four hours,” Goyal said.

The 530-km rail project, to be developed by K-Rail—a joint venture between the Kerala government and the Ministry of Railways—had been stalled due to widespread public opposition, political resistance, and delays in securing central approvals.

However, the project received renewed interest after Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw signaled that it could proceed if Kerala addressed technical and environmental concerns.

During his visit to Kerala last year, Vaishnaw stated that he had discussed the matter with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during their meeting in New Delhi.

Following this, officials from the Kerala Rail Development Corporation held discussions with Southern Railway authorities in December last year.

Opposition parties, including the Congress and BJP, continue to resist the project, arguing that it would lead to large-scale displacement of families and cause significant environmental damage.

Goyal's remarks at the summit, coupled with his assurance that the Union government is committed to Kerala's development, have rekindled discussions about the future of SilverLine. PTI