RailEnquiry

Trivandrum: Steps would be taken regarding the Rs.1.18 lakh crore project of building a 527 Km high-speed rail network from Trivandrum to Kasargod only after it has been made fully agreeable to the public. Discussions would be made with the concerned people and it would be ensured that all lingering doubts are properly addressed before any work is undertaken – said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in a press release. The high-speed rail line is going to need land that's only 20m wide, contrary to the rumoured figure of 110m. Tunnels and elevated paths would be built for passing through regions with high population density. The number of evictees involved in carrying out the project would be minimum. Station buildings would require additional land, but the stations are being planned to come up in less populated locations.   A total of 256 hectares of land would be needed to complete the first phase of the project between Trivandrum and Kochi. DMRC is entrusted with preparing a detailed report regarding the project. A survey is currently being carried out to aid with the preparing of the report; alignments would be decided only at a later stage. Intended as an address against the false rumours that are being circulated regarding the project, the Chief Minister has warned that serious action would be taken against those provoking social unrest among the people.   Incidentally, the high-speed rail corridor is a requisite for the state if it is to solve the transportation problems within the state, at least for the elite few who are expected to bring in the investments. The work on widening the NH stretch along the length of the state is going to take quite a while, as hinted by the Chief Minister in a press conference during Emerging Kerala.   The NHAI (National Highway Authority of India) is prepared to take the entire work of the NH, including the bypasses, in a single stretch. However the state government is yet to acquire and transfer all the needed land to NHAI to commence their work. And the prospect for that happening anytime in the near future does not look very promising either. So, building a high-speed rail corridor is the remaining viable alternative to bring in fast travel to god's own country.