SilverLine project not approved yet, Centre tells Kerala HC

KOCHI: A day after Kerala Finance Minister KN Balagopal claimed that in-principal nod has been accorded for the controversial SilverLine rail corridor project, the Centre on Friday submitted before the Kerala High Court that the proceedings of land acquisition for the project should be stopped at this stage as even feasibility of the present alignment has not been agreed upon by the Ministry of Railways.

The Centre clarified: “Granting of In-principle approval only means approval to go ahead for preparation of detailed project report (DPR) which brings out the complete details of the project including financials. Once DPR is made, based upon the details brought out, taking up of project or otherwise is decided. Any project expenditure is incurred once DPR is approved and sanction communicated. In the case of Silver Line, this approval has not been granted so far,”