Thread by @ramdasrocks

If the govnt is very keen about the silver line project why don't they think about alternative options ? It's very difficult to acquire 1200 Hctrs of private land through densely populated Kerala's midland. Project is only possible with maximum public land & minimum private land.

In my opinion easiest option to happen @OfficialKRail is through the median of NH 66 through viaducts. It's very clear from Google map that there are only very few curves in NH 66 (major one in Haripad & North Paravur) till Ponnani strech.
*Red - Sliver Line Route
*Blue - NH 66

From Ponnani to Thirur new alignment is needed for small strech. And from Thirur to Kasargod there won't be much issues as the present silver line alignment itself is going parallel to the railway line. (mostly through railway land).

Currently there is RRTS semi high speed rail project construction is going on between Delhi & Meerut mostly through National highway median(Erstwhile NH 58). Design speed is 180Kmph & Standard Guage. So a semi high speed rail through National Highway median won't be a problem.

I believe that 1st phase of @MetroRailKochi completed in record 4 year's time because we entrusted with DMRC & route is through public road median. So land acquisition was completed without much hurdles. Private majorly Seemati's land was acquired to connect Banerji & MG Road.

As the E.Sreedharan point outed considering the topography & population density if silver line is going to happen then it should be through viaducts. Yes cost will be higher but again considering the time & cost of land acquisition & rehabilitation,there won't be much difference.

45 metre Six-laning work of NH 66 is expected to start soon & @NHAI_Official issued tender in 16 out of 20 reaches of Talapady to Kazhakoottam strech. So it's high time to take decision by @CMOKerala @vdsatheesan @OfficialKRail about this option through median of NH-66.

In many junctions of NH-66 either there is flyovers or elevated highways are planned so it will be difficult to design viaducts after the construction. But prior to construction if we design elevated highways or flyovers accordingly & later double viaducts can be constructed.

*Advantages if @OfficialKRail is going through median of NH -66.
1. No hurdles about land acquisition only minimum private land to reduce curves. Peir width max 3m.
2. Can be done in very fastly so project won't be delayed so is the construction cost. Can be done in two phases.

3. NH-66 is going through major towns so it won't disconnect cities unlike K- Rail.
4. Completely through viaducts so there is no kind of disturbances unlike embankment. In embankment there is fencing needed throughout, flyovers, underpass at some distance for public movement.

5. No legal troubles in courts over land acquisition so that delay also can be avoided.
6. Stations can be constructed in prime spot with in the cities like Kochi Metro.
7. It may give a morale boost to road commuters underneath to depend speedy high speed rail above NH-66.

8. Majorly there won't be much environmental problems as the route is not going through flood prone areas, wet lands, paddy fields etc unlike K Rail route, creating a whole new one from scratch & design 62% is 2-3m high embankment, 2.55% tunnel,18% cuttings & only 10% viaducts.

NCRTC Delhi - Meerut semi high speed RRTS project film.

*My prime suggestion would be Vande Bharat express through railway lines by new alignment in the curves as it won't create a financial burden to state & land acquisition troubles.
* Secondly running tilting trains with minimum curves as suggested by @trains_are_best

*If state want a stand alone project then look this option of @OfficialKRail through NH-66 median with maximum public land & minimum Pvt. land. Present silver line route is through 80% of private land & it will be a herculean task to acquire land & rehabilitate 13000 families.

Cc @ottumvayya @litemeter @mknid