The K-Rail project proposed by the Pinarayi Vijayan led LDF government in Kerala has been going through some major opposition from various corners of Kerala. The Congress-led UDF coalition has been at the forefront of these protests and claims that such a project is not only unnecessary but also will render thousands of families homeless. Despite the opposition, the government has not stepped back and is trying to get all the stakeholders on the same page to implement this ambitious project.

K-Rail or Kerala Rail is a landmark project envisioned by the Kerala government to make travelling from the North of Kerala to the South a quick and painless affair. Also known as the Silverline project, this will reduce the total travel time from Kasarkode to Tiruvanathanpuram to only 4 hours when compared to the 14 hours it takes right now. The main argument that the protesters have put forward is that this project is not only impractical but also that it will have severe adverse effects on the ecological balance of the state.

The government has clarified that this project is being carefully studied by the relevant experts and has made claims that this project would eventually reduce carbon emissions every year by around 2.8 lakh tonnes. Expected to cost the state around INR 6000 crore, the project is said to have a deadline of 2025 for completion. However, many experts including “Metroman” E Sreedharan, is sceptical of the whole project in general.

The project will get implemented only on final approval by Indian Railways after it studies the final project plan including the environmental impact study that will need to be presented. Many experts believe that approval from Indian Railways will be difficult as the railway track is not interoperable. This means that only the Silverline or K-Rail trains will be able to use the tracks laid out.

While the political tug of war continues in the state between the ruling LDF and the opposition, many private groups have also started to take sides in the debate. They range from environmental groups and NGOs to privately funded support/protest groups and media channels. What caught our eye was that a new group has come out and openly pledged support for the project.

Our sources tell us that a group known as the KKFA or the Kerala K-Pop Fans Association has decided to voraciously support the proposed K-Rail project. The group consisting of females between the ages of 12 and 25 has members from all parts of the state and is looking to launch campaigns that will support the project on social media and digital platforms.

Read more at https://thedailyvanilla.com/2022/03/24/k-pop-fans-come-out-in-support-of-k-rail/