Kerala fast tracks ₹60,000-cr high speed rail corridor
The Kerala government has fast tracked the semi-high speed rail project with the setting up of land acquisition cells for acquiring 1,226 hectares of land to expedite the acquisition. The Railway Ministry has agreed to use the additional land for the project in the new lane parallel to the existing railway line for which about 200 hectares of land is available. The Indian Railways and the state government have an equal stake in the ₹66,000-crore project, which will be funded by loans from international financial agencies. In addition, the government will also approach the German bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency for funds. The railway has approved a speed limit of 200 km ph for trains running on the proposed semi-high speed rail. The total length of the route is 532 km and one can reach Kochi in an hour and a half and Kasaragod in four hours. Construction work is expected to begin this year and will be completed by 2024. Along the route there will be 10 stations including Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Chengannur, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Tirur, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod, said an official spokesperson.
