Kerala ends SilverLine rail project and cancels land acquisition

The Kerala government has formally terminated the SilverLine semi-high-speed rail project, a major infrastructure initiative launched by the previous administration. Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan announced the decision following a state cabinet meeting, stating all land acquisition proceedings for the controversial railway corridor are canceled.

The project, proposed in 2019, envisioned a 530-kilometer rail link connecting Thiruvananthapuram in the south to Kasaragod in the north, aiming to reduce travel time between the two endpoints to approximately four hours. It was planned through a joint venture known as KRail.

Satheesan said the government has directed the Revenue Department to remove all survey stones and yellow concrete markers installed for land demarcation. All notifications for land acquisition will be revoked. The Chief Minister explained that with the project abandoned, people had been unable to sell or transact properties marked for acquisition, causing hardship.

The government also plans to recommend the withdrawal of criminal cases filed against individuals who protested the SilverLine project, subject to judicial approval. The Home Department will examine...