Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Wednesday said that his government has decided to scrap the Silverline semi-high speed rail project, an ambitious initiative of the previous LDF administration.
Satheesan said at a press conference here that the notifications regarding land acquisition for the project will be revoked.
Addressing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Kerala Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan said all land acquired for the project would be de-notified and the yellow concrete markers placed along the proposed alignment would be removed.
The government will also recommend withdrawal of criminal cases registered against protesters who opposed the SilverLine project, subject to court approval, the Chief Minister said.
“We are not against high-speed rail projects. We opposed K-Rail because it was an environmental disaster and not economically viable. The K-Rail project did not have a proper detailed project report (DPR). The LDF government had given up on the project and alternative projects were being discussed. Unfortunately, land acquired for the project was not de-notified, due to which people were suffering as they were unable to sell or pledge their own property,” he said.
The Anti-K-Rail SilverLine People’s Struggle Committee had urged the government to formally withdraw the project. Ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, Satheesan had promised that the UDF would de-notify the acquired land if voted to power.
Kerala has witnessed widespread protests against the project since 2022, led mainly by the Congress-led UDF. Revenue survey teams faced stiff resistance in several areas, while Congress workers symbolically uprooted the yellow survey markers in protest. The issue also triggered repeated confrontations in the Assembly, with the UDF staging walkouts over police action against residents resisting land demarcation for the proposed rail corridor.
The BJP had also opposed the project, arguing that it lacked approval and credibility from the Union Government. The previous LDF government had made multiple unsuccessful attempts to secure Central clearance for the project.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet also decided to extend the validity of the Public Service Commission rank lists till November 30, noting that very few appointments were made during the election period, the Chief Minister added.
