Kochi: SilverLine investigation procedure was suspended in Ernakulam district of Kerala on Friday. The decision comes after massive protests against the proposed semi-high-speed train here.
The agency conducting the investigation has informed K-Rail authorities that the exercise can only be undertaken with adequate police protection.
The demonstrators destroy the instruments and vehicles used for the investigation and assault the officials inducing the women. The continuation of the investigation is difficult in this context, informs the agency.
Kerala has witnessed massive unrest against the leftist government’s flagship SilverLine project in various quarters since Monday.
Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Thrissur witnessed protests against the project on Thursday. Authorities were forced to temporarily suspend the investigation process in a few areas of Kottayam, Ernakulam and Malappuram districts on Thursday.
Leading off a mass protest organized by K-Rail SiverLine Virudha Janakeeya Samithi in front of the secretariat, environmental activist Medha Patkar called on the CPI(M) central leadership to look into all aspects related to the project.
The SilverLine project, which is expected to reduce travel time from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod to around four hours, is opposed by the Congress-led UDF and BJP, who have alleged that it is unscientific and impractical in addition. to impose an enormous financial burden on the state. .
The CPI(M)-led LDF government argued that the UDF and BJP were anti-development.
The government said the project would benefit future generations, bring about economic development and reduce carbon emissions each year by around 2.8 lakh tonnes. Therefore, the DFL said, everyone should come together to make the rail corridor a reality.
The 530 km stretch from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod would be developed by K-Rail, a joint venture between the Government of Kerala and the Ministry of Railways.
