Kerala panel flags gaps in high-speed rail proposal, halts land acquisition
The Kerala government's expert committee has found the high-speed rail proposal prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to be incomplete and recommended that
The Kerala government's expert committee has found the high-speed rail proposal prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to be incomplete and recommended that the project should not proceed in its present form, State Minister VD Satheesan said on Wednesday. The panel, which submitted its report earlier in the day, has advised the government against initiating land demarcation or acquisition until key studies are completed. Read Full Story Addressing reporters after a Cabinet meeting, Satheesan said the proposal, prepared by DMRC under the guidance of E Sreedharan, lacks critical components, including social and environmental impact assessments, viability and feasibility studies, and a sustainable economic model.
He said the proposal focuses solely on passenger transport and does not account for freight movement, raising concerns about the project's financial viability. "Without a logistics component, we will face difficulties in repaying the loans taken for the project. The government will therefore have to study the logistics aspect as well," Satheesan said. According to the minister, the panel also noted that the proposal does not address land availability, integration with other modes of transport such as the metro and inland waterways, or projected passenger demand.
It has recommended that a detailed project report (DPR) should be prepared only after comprehensive viability and feasibility assessments are carried out. "The government will have to examine various aspects, including the project's social and environmental impact and logistics movement, before calling for a DPR. There will be no land acquisition or demarcation before the DPR is prepared," he said. Satheesan added that the committee cautioned against repeating the mistakes made during the previous Left government's SilverLine project, where land acquisition was initiated before completing essential studies.
The minister said the government would carefully examine the panel's recommendations before deciding the future course of action on the proposed high-speed rail corridor. Ends
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