Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said on Tuesday that there was no cause for concern over the proposal for high speed rail corridor in the State since the project would be implemented only after discussions with all concerned.
In a statement here, the Chief Minister said that some quarters were making deliberate propaganda against the project with a view to raise public protests and to disturb peace.
Mr. Chandy said that the high speed rail would require only a path of 20 metres in width. The propaganda that 110 metres would be acquired was baseless. In populated areas, the rail would be laid through tunnels and at other places over pillars. It would run through bridges over water bodies. Hence, land acquisition would mostly be needed only in places where stations are to come up.
According to feasibility study conducted by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, only 256 acres would be required for the first phase of the project between Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam. The Corporation was now preparing the detailed project report. It was the preliminary survey for this that was under way. The alignment would be finalised only on completion of the survey. Before deciding the alignment, discussions would be held with people’s representatives and others concerned. All genuine complaints, it is hoped, could be redressed during these discussions.
The Chief Minister added that the government would not go ahead with any project that is not welcomed by the people. The high speed corridor was first proposed in the Budget speech for 2009-2010. The Cabinet gave its approval for the proposal in February 2010. The 527 km line from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod was estimated to cost Rs. 1.18 lakh crore. The travel time between Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod would be only less than three hours. The train would reach Kollam in 15 minutes and Kochi in 53 minutes.
