The Kerala government has allotted ₹5.15 crore to the Kerala Rail Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL) as reimbursement for the land acquisition activities under the SilverLine project. The project, conceived as a semi-high-speed railway corridor connecting Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod across 529.45km, has not made any headway for the past two years.

The survey and preparatory works ahead of the project had led to state-wide protests with police slapping cases against the residents who objected to laying survey stones in their property. As per the project note, the total travel time between Kasaragod and Thiruvananthapuram will be reduced to less than four hours with stops at Kollam, Chengannur, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Kochi Airport, Thrissur, Tirur, Kozhikode and Kannur.

The latest order issued by the transport department states that the amount has been given as reimbursement for the establishment and contingency charges for the land acquisition. KRDCL MD had placed a request for releasing the amount in March 2024. The finance department approved the amount as additional authorisation in April 2025.

Ajith Kumar V, MD of KRDCL, told Onmanorama that the corporation had spent some funds from its own resources on the social impact assessment. "KRDCL had shared the expense for the social impact assessment study with the state government. This has now been reimbursed," he said. When asked about the present status of the project, Ajith Kumar said that there has not been much progress. "The changes proposed by the Centre in the DPR (Detailed Project Report) could not be effected as the original mandate of the project would be lost, if revision is made in accordance with the demand of the Centre," he said.

The Ministry of Railways had sought revisions in the DPR, citing deficiencies. As per the Parliament records, the proposed alignment ran parallel to and in close proximity to Indian Railways lines. "There were many deficiencies in the DPR. Therefore, KRDCL has been advised by the Southern Railway to address those deficiencies and prepare a revised DPR as per the latest advised technical standards such as integration with existing railway network at suitable points, adoption of broad gauge for integration with the network, flatter ruling gradient, provision of Kavach, electrification with 2x25 kV, proper drainage scheme for yards and sections, addressing environmental concerns during construction and operation etc. The proposed changes are aimed at improving line capacity utilisation, integration with the existing rail network, etc," a reply by the Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav in February 2025 showed.

The ministry has reiterated that the project was not sanctioned, and the Southern Railway was asked to discuss various issues related to the project with the KRDCL.

In November 2024, the Southern Railway sent a letter to the KRDCL citing the need to modify the DPR. KRDCL, in its response sent in December 2024, said that modifications suggested resulted in radical shift from the project objectives and was a retrograde step in terms of project objectives. The SilverLine has been proposed in line with the Railway Board's policy for speeds above 160 kmph which mandates for exclusive corridor for speeds above 160 kmph, KRDCL said in the letter.

Till September 2025, ₹56.36 crore has been spent for the project. As many as seven studies were conducted, including geo-technical survey, hydrological survey, traffic survey, comprehensive environmental impact assessment and social impact assessment. Records show that the social impact assessment and environmental impact assessment study were not completed, and a final report was not prepared.