Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has offered to execute Kerala’s proposed high-speed rail project on a turnkey basis at an estimated cost of Rs 57,000 crore.
The DMRC made the proposal ahead of an expert panel report on the project. It wants to handle design, construction and commissioning of the corridor that will link Thiruvananthapuram with Kannur.
The corridor will cover about 473 kilometres and include 23 stations. Officials estimate it will carry up to 2.28 lakh passengers a day once operational. The project aims to cut travel time between the two cities to around three and a half hours.
DMRC sources said the corporation can complete the work in five years without cost overruns. They pointed to the successful turnkey model used for the Kochi Metro as an example.
The proposal comes as Kerala explores options to build its first high-speed rail line. The state government has been studying different execution models for the project.
The high-speed rail will use elevated viaducts and modern signalling systems. It will follow design standards similar to other high-speed corridors in the country. The line will support speeds of up to 200 kilometres per hour.
The project forms part of efforts to improve long-distance connectivity within Kerala. It is expected to boost economic activity, tourism and ease pressure on existing road and rail networks.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is a joint venture between the Central government and the Delhi government. It has executed several metro projects across India on time and within budget. The high-speed rail sector in the country is still at an early stage, with the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor under construction as the first such line.
