High speed rail shown red flag; semi-high speed given green

Thiruvananthapuram: The state cabinet has decided to end the functioning of the High speed Rail Corporation Limited that was formed to link the northern and southern ends of the state with a high speed rail corridor.

The decision comes in the wake of the priority accorded to the project of a semi-high speed rail project.

The Corporation for high speed track which was formed in 2009 is ending its work now after having spent crores on the project.  Delhi Metro was commissioned for its study.  The project was found to cost Rs 1,27,489 crore with a journey time from Thiruvananthapuram to Kannur of four and a half hours.   The expectation was that 80 per cent of the cost would be available as loan from Japan Bank.

Later Kerala Rail Development Corporation was formed in co-operation with India Railways and  a plan prepared to run two tracks in parallel to the existing line.  In consideration of the priority accorded to this project,  the earlier high speed project,  which was not found to be cost-effective,  was shelved.

The semi-high speed track is designed for 575 kilometers from Kochuveli to Kasargode at a cost of 56,000 crores. The envisaged speed of train is 125 km per hour.