Renowned engineer E. Sreedharan has unveiled a new alternative to Kerala’s controversial SilverLine project, advocating for a semi high-speed rail corridor between Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur with minimal land disruption. His proposal emphasizes the use of elevated tracks and tunnels, reducing large-scale displacement concerns linked to the original plan.
The 430-km rail corridor will feature 15 stations, enabling trains to operate at a maximum speed of 200 km/h, effectively reducing travel time to just 3.75 hours. Sreedharan has also recommended that the project be handled by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) rather than K-Rail, claiming that DMRC can complete the DPR in eight months and construct the railway in just five years.
Designed for seamless integration with India’s national high-speed rail network, the corridor could eventually link Kerala with Chennai, Bengaluru, and Coimbatore. Estimated to cost ₹1 lakh crore, the plan prioritizes elevated and underground rail infrastructure to prevent excessive land acquisition and displacement.
A long-time critic of the SilverLine project, Sreedharan insists that a 350 km/h bullet train is unnecessary for Kerala, and a 200 km/h semi high-speed rail is the more practical solution. His revised proposal is now under state government review as Kerala explores efficient and feasible rail network alternatives.
