Thiruvananthapuram : With Kerala’s travel woes becoming evident to Union Ministry firsthand, hopes run high that, the Central government will lend the long-awaited nod to the LDF government-proposed SilverLine project. The Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav’s words recently are indication that the Centre has realised the potential of K-Rail in remedying travel snag plaguing the state. The Minister clarified that K-Rail was not a close chapter and said talks in this regard will soon be held with the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
The Minister’s positive note came with Union Minister V Muraleedharan seated by his side. Muraleedharan has been constantly slamming K-Rail project in the name of Vande Bharat. The Centre indicated to the state BJP leadership that, there is no need to oppose the Kerala government’s development projects over existent political differences.
Huge efforts were made in the State to purport that Vande Bharat was alternative to SilverLine, when in fact, it is not. The propaganda was led collectively by the BJP state leaders. UDF , especially the Congress, was a vociferous supporter of that anti-K-Rail campaign.
In the end, the advantage of SilverLine- in terms of fares, timings and quantum services - as compared to Vande Bharat came to be acknowledged.
The Chief Minister had clarified to the Assembly that Centre’s sanction for SilverLine was inevitable. Not once had Centre assumed stand that SilverLine was not workable. Despite wide political opposition, the Centre did not reject it at any point. Ruckus thrown around the project in Kerala was all done by keeping these facts under wraps.
