The Railway Ministry said on Friday that the Kerala government is insisting on treating the SilverLine project as a separate venture despite being asked to revise its detailed project report (DPR) to integrate it with the existing network.
According to a press release, the Kerala government is working on a semi-high-speed line called SilverLine and has prepared its DPR. DPR prepared by Kerala Rail Development Corporation Ltd. (KRDCL), a joint venture between the Government of Kerala and the Ministry of Railways.
The Ministry of Railways has advised KRDCL to revise the DPR in accordance with the latest technical norms, including adoption of broad gauge for integration with the railway network, flatter grade, proper drainage scheme for stations and sections and environmental safeguards during construction, operation and integration with the existing network. “However, the Government of Kerala insists that the SilverLine project will be treated as a separate project,” the report added.
530 km of railway line
The information was given by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw while replying to questions in the Rajya Sabha, she said. The proposed 530 km railway line to be developed by K-Rail, a joint venture between the Kerala government and the Ministry of Railways, has been put on hold due to widespread public protests, opposition from political parties and delays in securing approval from the central government.
SilverLine aims to reduce the train travel time between Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod to four hours.
Published – 13 Feb 2026 20:26 IST