Green light likely for rail corridor

Thiruvananthapuram: After shelving the practically impossible high-speed rail corridor project, the government is all set to proceed with a semi high-speed rail corridor project, connecting Kasaragod and Thiruvananthapuram. The proposed semi high-speed rail will cover a distance of 532 km in four hours.
The French company Systra, which is specialized in rail public transport and civil engineering, has prepared a feasibility study report for the project and is awaiting the government nod. The Kerala Rail Development Corporation Ltd (KRDCL) which is the implementing agency, has informed the government about the multiple alignment options available and give clearance to the best possible one for submitting the report to the railway board for further necessary actions.
As per the detailed study undertaken by the company, the project is split into two sections — from Kasaragod to Tirur, covering a distance of 222 km which will be mostly along the existing railway lines, and from Tirur to Thiruvananthapuram, covering a distance of 310 km that will mostly be through new terrain due to technical reasons and sharp curves in the existing railway lines. Two more options also have been proposed for the project, both of which are fully along the existing railway lines, but will be feasible only after satisfying a set of conditions which would consume more money and effort.
As per the feasibility study, the proposed best option for alignment will cause minimum disturbance to railway structures and stations, and would pass through less congested stretches and less costly land. Systra has recommended that based on the multiple options proposed on the basis of speed, technical feasilbility, site constraints and cost, that the option for a greenfield alignment from Tirur to Thiruvananthapuram is the best available option.
According to top government sources, the government is in talks with multiple agencies for financing the project that would approximately cost Rs 56,000 crore. The cost is less than one-third of the cost the high speed rail project would have incurred. “The government is in talks with multiple agencies, including Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), for financing the project,” sources said.
Sources added that the United States Trade and Development Agency, which is an independent agency of the United States government that targets priority developing projects in emerging economies, has also evinced interest in the project. The government is also looking for value-capture financing (VCF) method, that is being pushed by the ministry of urban development to as a resource mobilising method. Under VCF, the property owners who are in the vicinity of the public infrastructure projects and would benefit from the increased property value due to the project, will have to pay additional taxes to the government.
The government is planning 10 smart stations along the route from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasarsgod that will not be in the same location as of the existing stations or towns.