Lok Sabha Question No. 1466 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-28
Subject: High Speed Railway Project
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Adoor Prakash, Suresh Kodikunnil, Dean Kuriakose, K. Muraleedharan, Thomas Chazhikadan, Anto  Antony

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1466

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2021

HIGH SPEED RAILWAY PROJECT

1466.  ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:

SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

ADV. DEAN KURIAKOSE:

SHRI K.MURALEEDHARAN:

SHRI THOMAS CHAZHIKADAN:

SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  construct  a high speed Railway line from Trivandrum to Kasaragod and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  present  stage  of  implementation  of  Sabri  Railway  Line (Silver Line) project in the State of Kerala;
- (c) whether  the    Union  Government  has  received  a  proposal from Kerala that the State Government will bear 50%  of implementation cost of the project;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereon;
- (e) if not, whether the Government will implement the project, if the State  Government is ready to bear 50% of implementation cost; and
- (f) whether  the  Government  has  any  details  regarding  the proposed implementation cost of this project and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) Project of Semi High Speed Rail (531 Km) from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasargod  has been identified  by Kerala Rail Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL), a Joint Venture

company of State Govt. of Kerala (51%) and Ministry of Railways (49%)  for  development  at  a  cost  of ₹ 63,941  Cr.    In-  Principle approval  (IPA)  for  taking  up  pre-investment  activities  has  been conveyed  by  Ministry  of  Railways.  After  survey,  KRDCL  has submitted  Detailed  Project  Report  (DPR)  of  the  Project  to  the Railway  Board,  which  is  under  examination.  Further,  technical details  such  as  alignment  plan,  particulars  of  railway  land  and private  land,  crossings  over  existing  railway  network  etc.  are being collected from KRDCL to examine the project. It is not a sanctioned project.

(b) to  (f)  Angamali-  Sabrimala  New  line  (111  km)  project  was included in Railway budget in 1997-98. Project could not be taken forward due to protest by local people against land acquisition and withdrawal of the consent given by State Govt. to share 50% of project cost. Now,  State Government  vide letter dated 08.01.2021 has agreed to share 50% of project cost, subject to the condition that 'operation and maintenance' of the track will be  done  by  Ministry  of  Railways  while  the  stations  along  the route will be developed by an SPV (through PPP route) and net revenue realized by SPV will be shared on 50:50 basis between State  Government  &  Ministry  of  Railways  after  off  setting  the cost of operation and Maintenance (O&M). M/s KRDCL has been advised  to  complete  Final  Location  Survey  and  to  update  the project cost. Further implementation of the project will be taken up  after  examination  of  report  on  merits  including  its  financial viability.

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