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SilverLine rail is a grave threat for Kerala’s socio-economic fields, environment. Alok Verma

SilverLine rail is a grave threat for Kerala’s socio-economic fields, environment. Alok Verma

Ex-chief engineer of Indian Railway says that social impact of the project has not been studied

Ex-chief engineer of Indian Railway says that social impact of the project has not been studied

Alok Verma, former chief engineer at Indian Railway, stated that the SilverLine semi-high speed rail project costing 63,000 crore poses a serious threat to Kerala’s socio-economic and environmental fields.

While addressing a State level cultural meeting, he said that the poorly-conceived project would be a path to hell. He was speaking at a Monday evening event organised here by a conclave representing various organisations under the banner Kerala Samsthana Prathirodha Samithi. I wonder what the State government has been doing to portray such a dreadful project as one that would be Kerala’s pride. He said that the detailed project report did not include hydrological and geological surveys.

Mr. Verma stated that the proposed alignment was full with curves and gradients, similar to the rail link to Srinagar. He called it suspicious that the SilverLine project had converted a broad gauge track into a standard gauge track. He stated that the SilverLine was now a standalone project and would not decongest or improve the existing rail network. What was originally proposed as an elevated viaduct ended up having embankments on 80% of its length. It was clear that planners preferred not to consider the damage caused by the 2018 deluge and subsequent floods. He added that the social effects of the project were also not studied.

K. Aravindakshan (Samithi president) presided over this event. Retired judges, technocrats as well as lawyers, socio-cultural activists, priests, teachers, and socio-cultural activists were all present. Two women were honored for their protests against the laying survey stones for the project at cenral Kerala. A resolution was also passed at the event denouncing attempts to destroy communal harmony in the State.

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