(a) whether NITI ayog has scrutinized the project report or proposal concerning Semi High-Speed Rail project, Silver Line, between Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod in Kerala;
(b) if so, whether Niti Ayog has granted concurrence to the project or expressed opinion about multilateral loans/bilateral funding or budgetary support of the Government to the project or extension of multilateral/ bilateral debt for funding any cost overrun under the project; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS & PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION; MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS
(RAO INDERJIT SINGH)
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) Yes Sir. NITI Ayog has supported the Semi High-Speed Rail project proposal of Government of Kerala to avail multilateral/bilateral loans along with stipulation for no repayment or interest or cash loss obligations (including from fluctuation) on Government of India under the tripartite agreement for multilateral/bilateral funding and no budgetary support of Government of India or further multilateral/bilateral debt for funding any cost overrun under the Project.
(c) The Semi High-Speed Rail Project will connect the North and South regions of the Kerala State, the length of the project is 529.45 KM. The proposed alignment lies between Kasaragod (North) and Thiruvananthapuram (South). Eleven stations are proposed to be constructed. Train services will operate at a maximum speed of 200 km/hour. The project will reduce travel time of 6 hours instead of present 10-12 hours. To implement the Project, Kerala Rail Development Corporation Limited was created on 1st September 2016, it is a Joint Venture Company between Ministry of Railways (49% share) and Government of Kerala (51% share). Subsequently, Ministry of Railways had given in-principle approval for the project on 17th December 2019. Total estimated cost of the Project is Rs. 63,941 crore, out of which 52.7 % (Rs. 33,700 crore) would be funded through multilateral/bilateral Banks.
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