Kerala Forges Ahead with Own High-Speed Rail: 200 Kmph Trains, K-Rail Leads

• Kerala is developing its own high-speed rail network, the 'SilverLine' project, aiming for trains to run at 200 kmph.
• The project, led by Kerala Railway Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL) or 'K-Rail', is a joint venture between the Kerala government and the Ministry of Railways.
• E. Sreedharan, India's 'Metroman', is advising the project, advocating for a modern rail network despite no central budget allocation.
• The 530 km SilverLine aims to cut travel time from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod from over 12 hours to under 4 hours, connecting 11 districts.
• Challenges include land acquisition in densely populated Kerala and securing central government approval and funding, though Sreedharan emphasizes its economic benefits.

Why It Matters: Kerala is building its own 200 kmph high-speed rail network, the 'SilverLine', advised by E. Sreedharan.