Kerala UDF government scraps LDF era K-Rail Silver Line project

The newly elected United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Kerala, led by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, has officially scrapped the controversial ₹63,941-crore K-Rail (SilverLine) semi-high-speed railway project connecting Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod, which was launched by the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.

A meeting of the state Cabinet held on Wednesday decided to cancel the flagship project initiated by the earlier LDF administration.

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Addressing a press conference after the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan said all land acquired for the project would be de-notified. He added that the government has directed the Revenue Department to remove all survey stones installed for land demarcation.

All land acquisition proceedings initiated for the project, popularly known as K-Rail, have also been cancelled.

The Chief Minister further informed that the government has decided to file affidavits before courts seeking withdrawal of cases related to protests against the project across the state, after reviewing the nature of the cases.

He clarified that the UDF government is not entirely opposed to high-speed rail connectivity. The government remains open to a sustainable and financially viable alternative that aligns with Kerala’s geography and does not adversely affect the environment or local communities.

One of the first major decisions of the new V.D. Satheesan government was to scrap the K-Rail project, fulfilling a key promise made in the UDF election manifesto.

Proposed in 2019 by the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government, the ambitious 530-kilometre semi-high-speed rail corridor aimed to connect Kerala’s southern capital, Thiruvananthapuram, with its northernmost district, Kasaragod.

However, the project faced strong public opposition, intense political resistance and widespread protests, particularly over concerns related to land acquisition and displacement.

The SilverLine project required the acquisition of more than 1,221 hectares of land, cutting through densely populated residential areas. This triggered widespread protests over the possible displacement of an estimated 9,000 to 10,000 families.

Following mounting criticism, especially during the high-stakes run-up to the recent Assembly elections, the LDF government quietly shelved further proceedings on the project after failing to secure crucial clearance from the Central government.