Can Metro Man help CPM, BJP find common ground? Sreedharan’s rail project idea gains traction

The likelihood of the CPI(M) and the BJP being on the same page on the project is down to Sreedharan who enjoys goodwill in Kerala cutting across the political spectrum. A decade ago, Kerala assigned Kochi Metro’s construction to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) mainly because it had Sreedharan as its advisor. After the CPI(M) government revved its work on Silverline, Sreedharan criticised the idea, dubbing it foolish.

Following the meeting with Sreedharan, BJP state president K Surendran hailed the Metro Man’s proposal and said the party would discuss the project proposed by him. “What is important is the development of the state. The government should strive to realise it. We’ll discuss the proposal. Sreedharan is of the view that Silverline is impractical. There is no dispute that the state requires a speedy rail corridor. But that should not incur a financial loss for the state or wreak havoc on its environment,” he said.

Met Metroman Dr.E.Sreedharan ji at his residence and had a thorough discussion on the proposed new high-speed rail project. @PrakashJavdekar ji @AgrawalRMD ji @VMBJP ji @blsanthosh ji pic.twitter.com/Lg5OKmWjYd

— K Surendran (@surendranbjp) July 12, 2023

Earlier, BJP had taken a tough stand against the Silverline project, with senior party leaders including Union Minister V Muraleedharan joining a door-to-door campaign against it. However, the party suddenly changed tack after the intervention of Thomas who is known for his links across the political spectrum, including with the BJP in Delhi.

While the matter is before Vijayan, the Congress, the principal Opposition in the state, has begun attacking the BJP and the Left, alleging a nexus between the two sides. “The speed at which the new project is being advanced is suspicious. It indicates a nexus between the CPI(M) and the BJP, to defeat the Congress in Kerala in the next Lok Sabha elections. Let them bring out the DPR, only then can we see what the ground reality is,” said senior Congress leader and party MP K Muraleedharan.

Former Opposition leader and Congress legislator Ramesh Chennithala said the people of Kerala should know what is happening. “Sreedharan has submitted some papers. But people have the right to know its details,” he said.

The semi-high-speed Silverline was proposed as a rail line connecting Thiruvananthapuram in south Kerala and Kasargod in its north. Sreedharan’s high-speed corridor goes up to Kannur, with a plan to extend it further north to Kasaragod in the future or even up to Mangaluru in Karnataka. The Silverline project faced stiff resistance from people living along its proposed route, with state units of the Congress and the BJP putting their weight behind the protesters. The BJP openly said at the time that the party would never allow Silverline in Kerala.

Amid movement on Sreedharan’s proposal, Thomas said, “The Union government is not in favour of the proposed semi-high-speed rail corridor. Instead, we have decided to look into the high-speed corridor suggested by Sreedharan. That project will be elevated, on pillars or through tunnels or both, wherever required. Elevated columns and tunnels are success models in the country’s Metro system as it will not require the acquisition of large tracts of land and the construction of fences or walls on both sides, as proposed for Silverline.”

He added that the proposed rail corridor should not be seen as something altogether new. “The previous Congress regime also suggested one. The high-speed rail will come at an estimated cost of Rs 1 lakh crore, as against Rs 64,000 crore for the semi-high-speed Silverline. Chances of the Union government giving sanction to the Silverline is unlikely.”

Thomas said the state and the Union governments can bear 60% of the cost — the share of each being 30% — and the rest of the funds can be mobilised through a consortium. “At present, the Vande Bharat train in Kerala is running at an average speed of 73 km per hour. In the high-speed corridor, we can increase this speed to 200-300 km per hour. It is proposed as a broad gauge line that can be linked to the national rail corridor.”

Ajith Kumar, the Managing Director of Kerala Rail Development Corporation Limited, said they had not come across the new proposal. “As for the Silverline project, the social impact assessment survey of land acquisition for it was suspended last year. We are yet to get its consent from the Railway Board,” he said.