Silver Line project part of policy address, Kerala governor says it will create job opportunities

In his policy address at the Kerala Assembly on Friday, February 18, governor Arif Mohammad Khan said that the controversial Silver Line project will create more jobs and faster transport across the state.

Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khan, in his policy address, said that the controversial Silver Line project will create more job opportunities and enable faster transportation across the state. He said the central government's permission is expected to go ahead with the project.

K-Rail, he said, will be an eco-friendly mode of transportation for the public. The governor also focussed on the state's success in tackling Covid-19 and lauded the government's initiative to provide free vaccines.

"The well oiled health infrastructure has enabled the state to manage the Covid-19 pandemic. The state is ahead of others in a majority of development indicators. We also lead in the health sector," he said.

He also pointed out that the state is one step ahead in poverty eradication. "Among all the Indian states, Kerala has the least poverty. The state gives special packages for all families living Below Poverty Line (BPL)," he said.

However, he pointed out that the allocation from the central government has not increased for a period now.

The governor also said that private industrial parks will be a reality in Kerala soon. The government, he said, will issue assistance towards infrastructure. An industrial corridor (Kochi-Palakkad) for developing the Integrated Manufacturing Centre (IMC) will be set up to attract large scale investments to the state.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had earlier said that a compensation and relief package worth Rs 13, 265 crore would be implemented for the affected persons who would lose their buildings, property and other belongings due to implementation of the Silver Line project.