Fact Check: Kerala minister did not say K-Rail will be scrapped if Vande Bharat Express approved in state
A post claiming that the Kerala finance minister, K.N Balagopal, has said that the K-Rail Silverline Project, a dream project of the state government
By Newsmeter Network Published on 7 Feb 2022 1:10 PM GMT
Hyderabad: A post claiming that the Kerala finance minister, K.N Balagopal, has said that the K-Rail Silverline Project, a dream project of the state government, will be stopped if the Vande Bharat Express (an intercity semi-high-speed EMU train) receives approval in Kerala is circulating on social media.
Fact Check:
NewsMeter searched online for media reports on K.N Balagopal issuing such a statement but found none that supported the claim.
This post began circulating after the 2022- 2023 budget was announced by Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The budget had not included plans for the K-Rail but had approved the Vande Bharat trains.
The Central government informed the Kerala High Court that the K-Rail SilverLine Project has not been formally approved by it yet. The Railway Board told the High Court that proceedings of land acquisition for the proposed high-speed line should be "stopped at this stage" as the feasibility of its current alignment "has not been agreed" to by the ministry of Railways. (Source: Indian Express)
The Union budget proposal to launch Vande Bharat trains led the critics of the K-Rail to say that the project is no longer needed and that Vande Bharat trains could be an alternative to the K-Rail project. (Source: New Indian Express)
However, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan still hopes the project will get the final approval from the Centre. He said, "The initial procedures regarding the project are taking place in the state. Some people are opposing the project without even studying it. Meanwhile, some others are opposing the project with some other motive. However, people of the state want this project to become a reality."
The CM added that the Vande Bharat train announced in the Union budget was not suitable for Kerala. He also dismissed the idea that Vande Bharat trains would be an alternative to the SilverLine project. (Souce: Mathrubhumi, Kerala Kaumudi)
During a press conference after the Union budget was announced, K.N Balagopal said, "If the Leader of the Opposition has information that a railway line like this (Vande Bharat) will replace the SilverLine, we can discuss it. The state government has not received any information about Vande Bharat." He made it clear that the Vande Bharat trains will not be used as an alternative to the K-Rail SilverLine Project.
Clearly, the Kerala finance minister did not say that the K-Rail project will be stopped in the state when Vande Bharat trains are launched. Hence, the claim is false.
