Kerala high-speed rail can carry 2.28 lakh riders a day, says DMRC

Kochi: The proposed high-speed rail project connecting Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur will have a carrying capacity of 2.28 lakh riders per day and can be integrated into the cross-country high-speed network being conceptualised by the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL).“Crucially, this line can easily be integrated into the cross-country high-speed network managed by NHSRCL, ensuring that Kerala does not remain isolated from India’s future bullet train map,” a Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) spokesperson said.The expert committee appointed by UDF govt to evaluate the proposed Thiruvananthapuram-Kannur high-speed rail project is in final stages of review, with the report expected to be submitted within a week.

Recently, DMRC provided detailed responses to nearly 100 technical and financial queries raised by the panel.Financially, the 473.2km standard-gauge corridor presents a highly competitive model. The base cost is estimated at Rs 57,000 crore (around Rs 120.5 crore per km), with the final completion cost pegged at Rs 60,000 crore.The proposal highlights several advantages designed to avoid the controversies of past semi-high-speed projects.

Because the entire line is designed to be fully elevated or underground, it drastically reduces surface land acquisition, minimising public displacement and local protests.Furthermore, the corridor connects all four airports in Keralam and opens rapid transit to regions currently lacking adequate railway facilities. It is also expected to significantly lower road accident rates across the state.The network’s entire energy requirements are planned to be met by captive solar systems.

This green energy model will keep operations and maintenance costs down to just two-thirds of a normal railway line, allowing the govt to offer affordable ticket fares to the public.Meanwhile, DMRC has informed the state that it was ready to execute the project design, construction and commissioning on a turnkey basis. Citing the successful implementation model of the Kochi Metro, the agency assured to complete the project within a strict five-year window without facing standard bureaucratic delays or cost overruns.