Congress not against high-speed rail project, says Satheesan

Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan on Saturday said that his party and the United Democratic Front (UDF) were not opposed to any high-speed rail project, provided it was environmentally sustainable and financially viable for Kerala.

Commenting on the ongoing debate between the State government, which is pushing for the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), and technocrat E. Sreedharan, who has been advocating a high-speed rail project, Mr. Satheesan said Kerala required faster mobility solutions and that infrastructure development should proceed.

“We are not against any high-speed rail project, and it should come. But there should be proper environmental studies, and it should be financially viable for Kerala,” Mr. Satheesan told reporters here.

He said his party would not object to such a project even if it was brought by the Centre or the State government.

“The RRTS project was announced towards the end of the government’s tenure, just before it is going to leave the office. It was announced without even a preliminary study. However, we will support any good project,” he said.

Mr. Satheesan said the Opposition had opposed the K-Rail (SilverLine) project only after studying its Detailed Project Report (DPR). “We realised it would create an environmental disaster in Kerala and would destroy the State financially. That is why we objected to it,” he said.

He said the party did not oppose the high-speed rail project proposed by Mr. Sreedharan, as it required more detailed studies.