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Kerala's ₹60,000 Cr High-Speed Rail to be World's 1st Green Corridor with Solar Power, DMRC Proposes Standard Gauge

Target:UPSCMPSCTeachingPrelims HighMains Medium
06 Jun 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:₹60,000 crore473.20 km₹24,000 crore crowdfunding51:49 equity ratio180 kmph operational speed3 hours 30 minutes travel time
Bodies:DMRCKerala State Electricity Board (KSEB)
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What This Article Covers

1.Kerala forms expert committee to study DMRC's proposal for a ₹60,000 crore, 473.20-km high-speed rail corridor from Thiruvananthapuram to Kannur.

2.The project aims to be the world's first green rail corridor, meeting energy needs via a captive solar network and selling surplus to KSEB.

3.The proposal uses standard gauge to reduce costs, with funding planned via 51:49 Centre-State equity and ₹24,000 crore through crowdfunding.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

Kerala's Congress government has formed an expert committee to study the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's (DMRC) proposal for a 473-km, fully elevated high-speed rail corridor. The ₹60,000 crore project aims to be the world's first green rail corridor, powered by a captive solar network. This development follows the shelving of the previous K-Rail (SilverLine) project.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Project Cost₹60,000 crore
Route Length473.20 km
Proposed Travel Time3 hours 30 minutes
Operational Speed180 kmph
Equity Ratio (Centre:State)51:49
Crowdfunding Target₹24,000 crore

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Project Cost: ₹60,000 crore
  • ›Route Length: 473.20 km
  • ›Target this Data: Project Cost ₹60,000 Cr; Length 473.20 km; Crowdfunding ₹24,000 Cr.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) prepared the interim report.
  • ›Target this Feature: World's first proposed green rail corridor powered by captive solar network.

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Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

The interim report for the proposed Kerala High-Speed Rail Corridor was prepared by which organization?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the proposed Kerala High-Speed Rail (KHSR) corridor:

1. It is proposed to be a fully elevated double line from Thiruvananthapuram to Kannur.

2. Its entire energy requirement is proposed to be met through a captive solar network.

3. The project proposes to use Indian Broad Gauge to ensure compatibility with the existing railway network.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

What is the total estimated cost of the proposed Kerala High-Speed Rail (KHSR) corridor as per the DMRC interim report?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is a primary stated advantage of using Standard Gauge over Broad Gauge for the proposed high-speed rail corridor, as mentioned in the report?

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