In one of its first decisions, the United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Kerala denotified the controversial Silverline project, which envisaged a standalone semi high-speed standard gauge railway line along the length of Kerala. The project had been on the back burner for some time after the Union government had refused to give it the green signal, prompting the last Left Democratic Front (LDF) government to propose a Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) in the run-up to the Assembly elections. Its scrapping, as promised by the UDF in its manifesto, was, therefore, a foregone conclusion.

The Silverline project had been on the wrong track from the very beginning, as there were concerns over the irreversible damage that the line could do to the local ecology. The line was meant to be built largely on the embankments across wetlands, biodiversity hotspots and flood-prone areas. Experts also stated that the estimated cost of the project was grossly underplayed. Calls for broad-based consultations to identify viable alternatives went unheeded, with the State government brazenly pushing ahead with the project, which led to widespread protests, as officials, escorted by the police, began planting yellow stones demarcating the areas to be acquired.

Such apprehensions led the Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad (KSSP) to carry out a comprehensive study of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Silverline initiative. The study concluded that there would be significant adverse environmental impact, mostly irreversible, which would be detrimental to connected ecosystems. It called for a less capital-intensive project, which would not worsen the State’s debt burden, preferably within the existing railway system. “Modernising the signal system and straightening existing and new lines could significantly increase train speeds and reduce travel time. This would reduce the project’s cost and ensure interoperability with the Indian Railway system. The Indian Railway has already initiated the process of modernising signals and straightening rail lines with the recent introduction of the Vande Bharat Express, an Indian made semi-high-speed train. It has also begun laying a third line designed for semi-high-speed trains. The DPR should have considered these alternative options, including the possibility of an additional fourth line,” the study added.

Alternative projects

Interestingly, the UDF election manifesto moots a high-speed railway corridor, but in collaboration with the Indian Railways. It gets a passing mention in the document, which promises a few other big-ticket projects such as Mission Samudra, which seeks to integrate Kerala’s intricate and vast network of canals and waterbodies into a maritime transport network.

It appears to be a feasible proposition provided there is political will. Much water has flowed since the government led by V.S. Achuthanandan laid the groundwork for operationalising the National Waterway-III, with the ambitious dream of first transporting hazardous cargo and then the public at large. However, only smaller sections have been made navigable so far because of a lock gate at Thrikkunnapuzha that is yet to be widened. The reconstruction work is set to be completed soon, and the bottleneck at Chavara would be resolved as well, which will open up the entire west coast canal for goods traffic sometime next year. Besides cargo movers, cruise vessel operators are also keen to ply along the fairway, which will definitely give a fillip to tourism and help decongest the highways.

While the water transport network takes shape, a high-speed rail corridor seamlessly linked to the existing railway lines could serve an entirely different purpose. The enthusiastic patronage for Vande Bharat indicates a need for faster travel along the State’s 530-km length. It would not only ease the pressure on the highways, but also deliver economic benefits. Such a rail corridor would make commutes in the State swift, pleasant and efficient, indirectly unburdening cities such as Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.

However, the new government would do well not to go down the same road as its predecessor. Broad public and expert consultations should be a precursor to these mobility projects, without which the government risks triggering backlash that could stop them in their tracks.

anandan.s@thehindu.co.in