Union Budget 2022: Vande Bharat trains may derail Kerala’s SilverLine project

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/PALAKKAD: The Union budget proposal to launch Vande Bharat trains has given a shot in the arm to the critics of the SilverLine who claim that the very idea of LDF government’s ambitious project has now become redundant. The Opposition, both UDF and BJP, latched on to the announcement quickly, saying SilverLine is not needed any longer.

While SilverLine trains could run at a speed of 200kmph, Vande Bharat trains can touch 180km-200km per hour. It could thus be an alternative to the K-Rail project, they feel. Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan urged the LDF government to roll back the SilverLine project in the backdrop of Nirmala Sitharaman’s announcement.