Causing quite the stir, K-Rail’s concerns about environmental infrastructure have been debated for a while now. Experts claim that the infrastructural project will displace thousands of people and cause grave environmental damage. In many such debates, people brutally attacked the Kerala Rail Development Corporation (K-Rail) methods to push for the SilverLine semi-high-speed project.
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What is K-Rail?
K-Rail or Kerala Rail Development Corporation Ltd (KRDCL) is a joint venture organisation established by the Government of Kerala and the Ministry of Railways, Government of India, to develop the railway infrastructure in Kerala. K-Rail takes on railway projects from its inception to the operation, which will include the preparation and submission of a DPR or Detailed Project Report and obtaining required approvals from appropriate authorities for the implementation of the project.
The Kerala Government claims that the project is meant to benefit future generations and result in major economic development; it will also reduce carbon emissions annually by approximately 2.8 lakh tonnes. Therefore, the government has asked people to unite to make this rail corridor a reality. In many areas across the state, citizens have been vehemently opposing the laying of the survey stones that help identify properties for the project and execute the social impact assessment.
The project is supposed to be carried out on a 530-km stretch from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod. From the State capital, SilverLine trains are proposed to have stoppages at Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kollam, Chengannur, Kottayam, Tirur, Kannur, and Kozhikode before reaching Kasaragod.
Features of the Project
The Kerala government claims that all the highways in the state are packed with vehicles. Residential and Commercial establishments along the highways make infrastructural development a difficult dream. The K-Rail SilverLine project has been conceptualised to reduce the traffic congestion between the north and south commute of the state. The state government and the Ministry of Railways have decided to construct a semi-high-speed rail corridor starting from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod. The corridor will cover a distance of 529.45 km in total.
Once the corridor reaches its completion stage, it is expected to take around four hours to travel between the two cities with a speed of 200 km/h. Currently, it takes commuters around 10 to 12 hours to travel between the two cities. The speed of existing trains is at around 45 km/hour in the state, as per the government. The cost of the project is estimated to be around Rs 63,941 crore. The project is intended to massively improve the time taken to travel and the quality of transportation. This project will also substantially reduce road accidents due to the decongestion of roads because of K-Rail. The Kerala government also believes that the project will provide last-mile connectivity, changing people’s perception of what they know public transportation to be.
The project is proposed to reduce an estimated 2,87,994 tonnes of Co2 by 2030 and 5,94,636 tonnes by 2050. K-Rail promises the use of 100 % renewable energy and no use of non-renewable fuels at all costs. It also claims to improve air quality and reduce emissions of Greenhouse gas. The State Government also claims that all buildings of the project will meet the standards of the Indian Green Building Council, having minimum disruption of flora and fauna.
The K-Rail SilverLine mode of transport will, in comparison to other modes of transport, be more energy-efficient. It will also lead to lower noise pollution than road transport and a scientific waste management system.
“Development and Environment can’t be separated”
Environmentalists and activists have come out in protests! In a recent anti-K-Rail meeting, Sreedhar Radhakrishnan, an environment activist, exclaimed that the K-Rail project is nothing but a real estate business deal. The K-Rail Silverline Viruddha Janakeeya Samithy organised the anti-K-Rail meeting on Thursday at the Kerala Sahitya Akademi hall. Mr Radhakrishnan addressed the meeting, stating, “It was a project to get foreign loans worth crores”.
Government Claims!
In an address, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the controversy surrounding the infrastructure wouldn’t stop the work of the highly ambitious Silverline project. He mentioned, “There are attempts to mislead people. The project is for the future of our children. If asked privately, Congress leaders also say that the project is necessary.”
