The proposed high-speed rail corridor envisioned by “Metro Man” E Sreedharan has undergone significant alignment revisions, with the updated route now planned to pass through the hilly regions of Kozhikode and Kannur districts in Kerala.
Gold 101.3 FM UAE’s No.1 radio station brings you the latest infrastructure and development updates from Kerala, India, and beyond.
As per the revised plan, new stations have been proposed at Balussery, Nadapuram and Koothuparamba, before the line terminates at Kannur. Earlier proposed stations at Koyilandy, Vadakara and Thalassery have been dropped from the alignment. The updated corridor also includes stations at Thripunithura and Aluva in Ernakulam district, along with Chalakkudi in Thrissur, increasing the total number of stations on the route to 23.
Officials at Sreedharan’s office in Ponnani stated that an interim report on the project will be submitted to both the Centre and the State government within the next 10 days, ahead of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) expected in September.
The renewed discussions around the project come after the UDF government decided to de-notify the controversial K-Rail SilverLine project, reviving interest in Sreedharan’s Kerala High-Speed Rail (KHSR) proposal as an alternative. The proposal was first revived last year when preparations for the DPR began with the opening of a DMRC office in Ponnani.
Originally, the 465-km corridor was planned with 20 stations, including major stops such as Thiruvananthapuram Central, Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, Varkala, Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam Bypass, Cochin International Airport, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur, among others, with stations spaced at intervals of 20–30 km.
Under the revised alignment, Thripunithura has been added after Vaikom, while Aluva has been included between Ernakulam and Nedumbassery, giving Ernakulam district three stations on the corridor.
According to sources, the alignment changes in Kozhikode and Kannur coastal regions were made to improve connectivity to under-served areas such as Balussery, Nadapuram and Koothuparamba. The revised route is also expected to enhance future rail access to Wayanad.
The proposed corridor is designed for a maximum speed of 200 kmph with an operational speed of 180 kmph, and the estimated project cost stands at ₹54,000 crore. Sreedharan remains optimistic that both the Centre and the State government will seriously evaluate the proposal as a viable alternative to the SilverLine project.
