KOCHI:
Kerala Rail Development Corporation Ltd (KRDCL) will showcase the Semi High Speed Rail (SHSR) corridor project before captains of industry and policy makers on the opening day of the global investors meet ASCEND KERALA 2020 at Kochi on Thursday.
Billed as a game-changer in Kerala’s infrastructure and economic development, the Rs 66405-crore Thiruvanathapuram-Kasaragod rail corridor, named as Silver Line, will be one of the major projects to be showcased at the two-day meet at Lulu Bolgatty International Convention Centre.
Silver Line, a project of K-Rail a joint venture of Kerala Government and the Ministry of Railways, holds great investment potential for those planning to invest in Kerala’s mega projects. The project has been cleared by the State Cabinet and also received in-principle approval of the Ministry of railways which enables pre- investment activities.
There are investment opportunities in Transit Orient developments, Engineering-Procurement-Construction contracts worth Rs 38,000 crore for Civil, Electrical & system works, Supply & operation of Rail Coaches, Supply & operation of High speed freight trains, Supply & operation of Tourist trains, Renewal power generation of around 300 MW, Power storage systems etc. Opportunity also exist for any investor to directly invest in the project SPV.
The presentation will be made by KRDCL Managing Director V Ajith Kumar, at the session on “Mobility Development and Electric vehicles” scheduled at 4 pm at Vembanad Hall of Lulu Convention Centre. State Transport Minister A K Saseendran will preside over the session. Investors and experts from transport sector will be attending the session, deliberations of which will be summed up by Transport Principal Secretary K R Jyothilal.
Trains running on Silver Line will be covering the 532 km end-to-end distance from Kochuveli in state capital to Kasaragod by four hours, which now takes around 12 hours.
The completely green project also promises a set of long-term benefits like sharply reducing the road congestion caused by private vehicles and freight carrying trucks and significantly bringing down air pollution from emissions by petroleum fuel-driven motor vehicles.
The project will generate over 50,000 jobs during its construction and 11,000 people will get employment on completion.
