Title - Red flag to high-speed rail project Opposition To Land Acquisition, Uncertainty Over Funding Pattern

Kottayam/Thiruvananthapuram: The state government is learnt to be reviewing the high-speed rail project. The stiff opposition from the public against land acquisition and the uncertainty over the funding pattern for the Rs 1.2 lakh crore project had prompted a rethinking among a section of the cabinet, sources said.
    It is learnt that the government has already asked the Kerala High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd to stop the land survey initiated in connection with the project. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, which is preparing a detailed project report of the high speed corridor, is expected to submit its report in December.
    Additional chief secretary in charge of industries V Somasundaran said, “The government will take a decision on the project only after obtaining the DMRC study report.”
    The project was showcased at the recent Emerging Kerala summit and the Centre had taken a favourable stance towards the project. Kerala High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd chairman and managing director T Balakrishnan told TOI on Saturday that a delegation led by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) had shown interest in offering financial and technical support for the project at the meet.
    Sources said a section of ministers who directly experienced the land acquisition hurdles was against going ahead with the project and they have conveyed their sentiments to the chief minister. However, the chief minister and top officials in charge of the project prefer to wait for the detailed project report for taking a decision.
    Meanwhile, in Kaduthuruthy, where the project had faced the maximum public wrath, a new controversy erupted on Saturday. Police found that the survey markings of the project were fake in some places. Such fake markings were found on the wall of the Valiya Pally, another church, a wall near Malliyoor temple and the compound wall of a school. “We suspect that somebody is playing a communal card to sabotage the project,” an officer said.
    Mons Joseph, MLA, said vested interests were trying to destroy peace by doing this. “They want to create a confusion.” He said he had demanded an investigation by a special team on the issue.