Between January and May 2022, residents, the K-Rail SilverLine Virudha Janakeeya Samithi, the Congress-led UDF and the BJP protested across Kerala against concrete boundary stones laid on private land for the LDF government's SilverLine semi high-speed rail project. Protesters pulled out stones, and police dragged and in one case kicked protesters. In May 2022 the state switched to GPS-based geo-tagging. In November 2022 it recalled its land acquisition staff because the Railway Board had not approved the project, and in May 2026 the new UDF government scrapped it.
Key takeaways
- SilverLine was a planned 530 km semi high-speed line from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod, promising a journey of under four hours, to be built by K-Rail (KRDCL), a joint venture of the Kerala government and the Railway Ministry.
- Protests peaked from March to May 2022 over concrete stones marked "K-Rail" planted on private land for a social impact assessment. Protesters pulled out stones in many districts.
- Police dragged women protesters at Madappally in Kottayam on 17 March 2022, and a policeman was filmed kicking a Congress worker at Kazhakoottam on 21 April. That officer was transferred and an inquiry was ordered.
- On 16 May 2022 the state told K-Rail to use GPS geo-tagging instead of stones. The Centre told the Kerala High Court the project had no sanction, and the state recalled its land acquisition staff on 27 November 2022.
- On 20 May 2026 the new UDF government scrapped SilverLine, cancelled land notifications, ordered the stones removed and began moves to withdraw protest cases.
Background: the project
SilverLine was planned as a 529.45 km standard gauge, fully fenced line from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod through 11 districts, with trains running at up to 200 km per hour The News Minute. It was to be built by the Kerala Rail Development Corporation Ltd (KRDCL, known as K-Rail), a joint venture of the Kerala government and the Ministry of Railways. It was to have 11 stations Onmanorama.
The cost was disputed from the start. K-Rail estimated Rs 63,941 crore. In a note sent to Kerala on 30 September 2020, NITI Aayog said the real cost would be more than double, at least Rs 1.33 lakh crore, and called the planned cost of Rs 120.77 crore per km "severely low when compared to similar projects" Onmanorama. Other reports give NITI Aayog's figure as about Rs 1.25 lakh crore Onmanorama.
The state planned to acquire 1,383 hectares, about 85% of it private land Onmanorama. The Chief Minister told the Assembly in October 2021 that 9,314 buildings would be affected Onmanorama.
The two cases
The government's case
Government's position Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said SilverLine would cut the Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod journey to about four hours, against 12 to 14 hours now, and take a commuter from Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi in 86 minutes Onmanorama The News Minute. He said rail had "minimal ecological impact compared to other modes of transport" and that SilverLine would reduce Kerala's carbon footprint, employ 50,000 people during construction and 10,000 after Onmanorama. He said its lower cost per km was why the state chose semi high-speed over full high-speed rail. On 4 January 2022 he announced a Rs 13,265 crore compensation package: four times the fair price for land in rural areas, twice in urban areas, Rs 4.60 lakh on top for those losing homes, and priority for jobs. He accused the Congress-led opposition of pushing Kerala back to the 19th century and said the project was meant for future generations Onmanorama.
The protesters' case
Claim · Opposition and protesters Opposition leader V D Satheesan said at least 20,000 families would lose their homes, that the cost was suspect, and that a planned loan of nearly Rs 34,000 crore from JICA would fall on Kerala alone if the joint venture defaulted Onmanorama. Environmental groups including the Kerala Sasthra Sahitya Parishad and Kerala Paristhithi Aikya Vedhi questioned the line's ecological impact and viability. Critics cited the project's own rapid environmental assessment: embankments 15 to 30 m wide make up 292.73 km of the route, which they said would act as "a wall across the state" and block drainage in a flood-prone state The News Minute. That assessment identified 164 hydrologically sensitive areas. Satheesan also argued that fares would be beyond ordinary commuters Onmanorama.
K-Rail's chief engineer argued that about 88 km would run on viaducts, 11 km in tunnels and 13 km on bridges, and K-Rail said railway projects do not legally need an environmental assessment but it had done one anyway The News Minute.
Why the stones became the flashpoint
The boundaries were marked for a social impact assessment (SIA) under the 2013 land acquisition law. K-Rail used concrete cylinders 15 cm by 90 cm, painted yellow and marked "K-Rail", planted on private land, often with police removing protesters Onmanorama. Landowners feared the marked land could not be sold, mortgaged or used for loans. The Kerala High Court raised the same concern, and in April 2022 recorded the state's assurance that the stones were only for the SIA and would place no restriction on the land LiveLaw.
In early January 2022 KPCC president K Sudhakaran said the stones would be removed with the support of the people if the government ignored the protests. Stones were found uprooted in Kannur district soon after. CPI(M) leader M V Jayarajan warned that those who came to uproot stones should mind their teeth, and police booked a Youth Congress activist who shared pictures of an uprooted stone Deccan Herald Deccan Herald. The protest committee drew members from all parties, including the ruling front, and activist Medha Patkar backed it. The BJP also announced protests.
Timeline
First cases
Police booked 88 people in four districts over protests against stone laying Onmanorama. On 23 December the High Court stayed the laying of stones with "K-Rail" markings Onmanorama.
Chengannur
At Piralassery, residents and Samithi activists, joined by BJP and Congress workers, resisted stone laying. One man doused himself in petrol. Police arrested 16 people; officials laid 13 stones, and protesters pulled one out after they left Onmanorama.
Madappally
Police forcibly removed protesters near Changanassery in Kottayam, dragging several women to police vehicles. About 23 were arrested and a hartal was called for 18 March. The UDF boycotted the Assembly Onmanorama The News Minute.
Over 100 cases
More than 100 cases had been registered across the state, including one against UDF convener M M Hassan for removing a stone, with a fine of over Rs 2,500 per stone, per Kerala Kaumudi Kerala Kaumudi.
Supreme Court declines to interfere
The Supreme Court upheld a High Court division bench order lifting a single judge's stay on the survey, saying the "prestigious project couldn't have been stalled" by an interim order LiveLaw.
Kazhakoottam
After a pause of nearly two weeks, stone laying resumed at Karichara. A policeman was filmed kicking a protester; five people were admitted to hospital and revenue officials temporarily called off the survey Onmanorama Madhyamam/PTI.
Kannur scuffle
At Edakkad, CPI(M) workers countered Congress protesters, saying they wanted development. Police dispersed a scuffle and protesters pulled out stones Deccan Herald.
Switch to geo-tagging
The Revenue Department told K-Rail to mark the alignment by GPS or on permanent structures instead of stones The News Minute.
Police action and both accounts
At Madappally, TNM reported that a woman who came with her child was seen being dragged on the ground. Congress MLA Shafi Parambil said dragging women to police vans in front of children could not be justified Onmanorama. Claim · Unattributed report TNM reported that the woman was said to have come to the spot with kerosene. It said protesters had tried to block the vehicle carrying the stone and refused police requests to leave, and that police used force as slogans against the Chief Minister grew The News Minute.
In the Assembly, Satheesan said women were "dragged in the road". Vijayan replied that stone laying had largely been peaceful and that the Congress had provoked violence, including attacks on police and a tahsildar The News Minute. Claim · CPI(M) ministers Minister V N Vasavan called the protests politically motivated, and Minister Saji Cheriyan alleged that "terror groups" had spread a false claim of a 1 km buffer zone. He named no group and gave no evidence in the report Madhyamam.
At Kazhakoottam, a Special Branch report by DySP Stuart Keeler said the scene was tense but that civil police officer Shabeer's kick to Joy, a local Congress worker, could have been avoided The News Minute. Shabeer was moved from Mangalapuram station to the Armed Reserve camp and an internal probe was ordered; he denied stomping on anyone deliberately Onmanorama. Police said they had not intentionally hurt anyone. DGP Anil Kant had earlier told officers to show restraint Onmanorama.
The High Court and the Centre
Justice Devan Ramachandran repeatedly questioned the stones. He asked why concrete poles marked "K-Rail" were used instead of ordinary survey stones, and in April 2022 recorded the state's position that the process was only a survey LiveLaw. On 24 May 2022 he said the SIA should be done quietly, that large stones were unnecessary, and that with the smaller stones the court had suggested, clearance "may have been issued in February or March this year". He noted that the Survey Director had issued an order bypassing the court's December 2021 stay and said officials who think they are above the law should be disciplined Onmanorama.
On 2 June 2022 the Railway Board told the court that the DPR lacked sufficient technical feasibility details, that it had not concurred with the SIA, and that the project had no financial approval. K-Rail replied that it had in-principle permission and that land acquisition was a state subject LiveLaw. In December 2022 Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told the Lok Sabha that the project was not sanctioned and that in-principle approval covered only pre-investment work such as preparing the DPR The South First.
On 29 August 2022 the court asked the government to decide whether people charged for opposing the physical SIA should "continue to bear the brunt" of the cases, since the state had itself moved to geo-tagging LiveLaw Bar and Bench.
The switch to geo-tagging
On 5 May 2022 K-Rail wrote to the government citing "violent public protests and resistance" and said the alignment could be marked by GPS. On 16 May Additional Chief Secretary Abdul Nasar B directed demarcation by geo-tagging or marks on permanent structures, with stones only where owners agreed The News Minute. Stone laying had already paused for the Thrikkakara by-election Onmanorama. Samithi general convener S Rajeevan said GPS was of no use, since an SIA had to be done on the ground with people's consent.
Outcome
- Cases: 88 people booked by December 2021; over 100 cases by March 2022; over 250 cases against more than 1,000 people by 2026, per Kerala Kaumudi.
- Police: One officer transferred and an internal probe ordered after the Kazhakoottam kick.
- Survey: Stones replaced by geo-tagging in May 2022; SIA stopped.
- Staff: 204 to 205 revenue officials recalled on 27 November 2022.
- Spending: Rs 1.48 crore on 6,737 stones and Rs 56.69 crore on groundwork by late 2022, per KRDCL figures cited by The South First.
- Project: Scrapped by the UDF government on 20 May 2026.
What happened after 2022
The November 2022 order said fresh SIA notices for 1,221 hectares would wait for Railway Board approval. Satheesan said the government was withdrawing the plan in phases; Industries Minister P Rajeev said the government had always said it could not proceed without central approval The News Minute. Reports put the number recalled at 204 or 205; Madhyamam described the order as coming from the Centre, while other outlets reported it as a state revenue department order The South First Madhyamam.
Government's position In December 2023 Vijayan said the state had not abandoned the project but could not proceed without the Centre, and blamed "narrow minds" for the lack of permission The South First. In November 2024 Southern Railway asked KRDCL to revise the DPR, including a switch to broad gauge and integration with the existing network. KRDCL replied that this was "a retrograde step", since Railway Board policy requires an exclusive corridor above 160 km per hour. By September 2025 Rs 56.36 crore had been spent, and the SIA and environmental studies were never completed Onmanorama.
After the UDF won the 2026 Assembly election, Chief Minister V D Satheesan announced on 20 May 2026 that the project was scrapped because it had no central approval and landowners could not sell their land. He said survey stones would be removed and the Home Department would recommend withdrawal of protest cases to the courts Onmanorama. He said the UDF was "not against high-speed rail projects" Scroll. By 26 May the Home Department had asked district police chiefs for case details, and the Transport and Revenue departments had issued cancellation orders Onmanorama. K-Rail itself is being retained Kerala Kaumudi.
What is still pending
Withdrawal of the protest cases needs court permission, and no completed withdrawals were found in the reporting reviewed. Removal of the stones was ordered, but its progress was not reported.
Questions people ask
Why did people protest against K-Rail?
Landowners objected to concrete stones planted on their land, fearing displacement and that the land could not be sold or mortgaged. The opposition and environmental groups also cited embankments blocking drainage, a disputed cost, and debt.
What did the government say?
The LDF government said SilverLine was needed for Kerala's development, would cut travel time and carbon emissions, and offered compensation of up to four times land value in rural areas. It accused the Congress of opposing development and provoking violence.
Did the Centre approve SilverLine?
No. The Railway Ministry gave in-principle approval only for pre-investment work such as the DPR. It told the Kerala High Court and the Lok Sabha in 2022 that the project was not sanctioned.
Is SilverLine cancelled?
Yes. The UDF government scrapped it on 20 May 2026, cancelled the land notifications, ordered the stones removed and started moves to withdraw protest cases.
Sources
- The News Minute: Kerala's Rs 63,941 cr Silver Line: a dream corridor or environmental disaster?, 15 July 2021
- Onmanorama: NITI Aayog finds serious flaws in Silver Line project, Dec 2020
- Onmanorama: Tough times ahead for K-Rail as more clarity needed on project cost, 26 Mar 2022
- Onmanorama: CM and opposition clash over Silver Line in Assembly, 13 Oct 2021
- Onmanorama: Kerala CM announces Rs 13,000 cr compensation package, 4 Jan 2022
- Deccan Herald: Protest against Kerala's K-rail project takes ugly turn, 5 Jan 2022
- Deccan Herald: CPI(M)-Congress making open battle calls over K-rail, 8 Jan 2022
- Onmanorama: Police act tough on SilverLine protesters, 88 booked in 4 districts, 10 Dec 2021
- Onmanorama: Protest against K-Rail continues, Congress to hold statewide stir, 5 Mar 2022
- Onmanorama: Crackdown on K-Rail protest, hartal in Changanassery, 17 Mar 2022
- The News Minute: K-rail protests turn tense, cops forcefully remove protestors, 17 Mar 2022
- Kerala Kaumudi: More than hundreds of cases taken for removing SilverLine survey stones, 22 Mar 2022
- Madhyamam: K-Rail protests motivated by "terror-groups": CPI(M), 23 Mar 2022
- LiveLaw: Supreme Court refuses to interfere with SilverLine survey, 28 Mar 2022
- LiveLaw: Survey stones for SIA, not acquisition: Kerala High Court, 6 Apr 2022
- Onmanorama: K-Rail survey called off after clash at Kazhakuttam, 21 Apr 2022
- Madhyamam (PTI): Silver Line stone laying halted temporarily as protests erupt again, Apr 2022
- Onmanorama: Cop who stomped on anti-SilverLine protester transferred, 24 Apr 2022
- The News Minute: Kerala cop kicking K-Rail protester should have been avoided: probe report, 25 Apr 2022
- Deccan Herald: CPI(M), Congress workers clash over Silver Line project, 25 Apr 2022
- Onmanorama: K-Rail asked to stop planting survey stones, 16 May 2022
- The News Minute: Kerala govt to switch to GPS instead of survey stones, 16 May 2022
- Onmanorama: HC raps Kerala govt for avoidable din over K-Rail survey, 25 May 2022
- LiveLaw: Centre says K-Rail SilverLine not yet sanctioned, 4 June 2022
- LiveLaw: High Court asks govt to look into cases against K-Rail protesters, 30 Aug 2022
- Bar and Bench: Should protestors bear the brunt of criminal cases?, 30 Aug 2022
- The News Minute: SilverLine on pause as land acquisition staff called back, 28 Nov 2022
- Madhyamam: K-Rail comes to a temporary halt as employees are called back, Nov 2022
- The South First: Central minister says no approval granted for SilverLine, 9 Dec 2022
- The South First: Kerala has not abandoned K-Rail project, says CM, 14 Dec 2023
- Onmanorama: No sanction, no progress, govt keeps SilverLine alive with Rs 5.15 cr, 30 Oct 2025
- Onmanorama: UDF govt scraps SilverLine project; land acquisition orders denotified, 20 May 2026
- Scroll: Newly-formed UDF government scraps LDF's K-Rail project, 20 May 2026
- Kerala Kaumudi: UDF government officially scraps K-Rail SilverLine project, 21 May 2026
- Onmanorama: Govt collects case details of SilverLine protests, 26 May 2026