Chief Minister V.D. The Satheesan-led cabinet has begun the formal process of scrapping the controversial Silver Line semi-high-speed rail project, taking a significant political decision within days of assuming office. The government has announced the cancellation of all land acquisition notifications issued for this project across Kerala.

Addressing the media after the second cabinet meeting of his government in Thiruvananthapuram, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan announced that all land acquisition processes to the Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod Silver Line semi-high-speed rail corridor have been formally cancelled. This is being considered a major and dramatic reversal on one of the flagship projects of the previous Left government.

“We had opposed this project from the beginning. Now the notification of the land identified for acquisition has been cancelled,” the Chief Minister said.

Also, in a major relief to those protesting against the Silver Line project, the Chief Minister announced that all criminal cases registered against them will be withdrawn and the government will initiate necessary process in the court for the same.

He also informed that the controversial yellow survey stones installed in private properties during the survey by the previous government will also be removed.

V.D. Satheesan said the project was a potential disaster for the environment and that his government was in favor of development work that does not harm people and the ecology.

The Cabinet also decided to recommend to the Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC) that all rank lists due to expire on August 31 be extended till November 30, which will benefit thousands of job aspirants.

The Chief Minister said that the implementation roadmap will be prepared under the long-term “Vision 2031” plan of the government by sending the election manifesto of UDF to all the departments. Additionally, a 100-day action plan will also be released soon, focusing on immediately implementable promises.

He also indicated that the ongoing National Highway construction works in Kerala will be reviewed and all aspects to the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board will be examined.

Responding to the criticism over his name, the Chief Minister said there should be no objection in using his father’s name and he wanted to add his mother’s name as well. He clarified that his parents had passed away even before he became a minister.

Responding to criticism over his meeting with religious and community leaders, he said he would maintain cordial relations with all sections of the society, but there would be no compromise with secular values.

Rejecting allegations of delay in allocation of cabinet portfolios, he said that the portfolios were decided on the night of the swearing-in and were formally handed over to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Wednesday.