Thiruvananthapuram: An expert committee has found that the interim report submitted by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for a high-speed rail project was incomplete, lacking crucial studies on financial viability, passenger demand and environmental and social impact, chief minister V D Satheesan said on Wednesday. The proposal was prepared under the guidance of ‘Metro Man’ E Sreedharan.Satheesan said the report was examined by an expert committee comprising experts in finance, railways and environment, besides the transport secretary. It concluded that the document could not be treated as a comprehensive project report as it lacked adequate information on land availability, realistic passenger projections or the project’s financial viability. Citing the state’s limited financial capacity and the absence of environmental and social impact assessments, the panel said the proposal could not be accepted in its present form.The committee recommended that no field inspections, land acquisition notifications or other preliminary ground-level activities related to the project be initiated at this stage to avoid a repeat of the controversies surrounding the proposed SilverLine semi-high-speed rail project, which was scrapped by UDF govt. Instead, it recommended that the state independently undertake detailed studies on freight transport potential, alternative transport corridors, land availability and integration with existing and proposed metro systems, ports and inland waterways before proceeding.The committee further recommended that a detailed project report (DPR) be prepared only if these studies establish the project’s need and demonstrate its broader economic significance and long-term viability. “The report submitted now does not present the best financial model,” Satheesan said, adding that the govt would examine the expert committee’s findings before taking a final decision.The CM said UDF had opposed the SilverLine project on both environmental and economic grounds and would not proceed with a similar project without addressing those concerns. “When we were in opposition, we opposed the K-Rail project because it was being pursued without environmental studies. We will not move ahead with a similar project in the same manner,” he said, adding that only a project compatible with Kerala’s ecological conditions and capable of strengthening state’s economy would be considered.
