Kerala CM V.D. Satheesan Cancels Silver Line Rail Project and Rolls Back Land Acquisitions

The Kerala cabinet, led by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, announced on 20 May 2026 that the controversial Silver Line semi‑high‑speed rail corridor (K‑Rail) will be scrapped. All land‑acquisition notifications for the Thiruvananthapuram‑Kasaragod route were denotified, and the government will remove the yellow survey stones that were placed on private properties during the earlier survey.

The administration also said it will seek court approval to withdraw criminal cases filed against protesters who opposed the project, providing relief to thousands of demonstrators. In the same meeting, the cabinet approved the extension of Kerala Public Service Commission rank‑list validity to 30 November, a move aimed at helping job‑seekers delayed by the election period. The government said a 100‑day action plan and a review of ongoing infrastructure works, including national highways and KIIFB projects, would be presented shortly.

These decisions overturn the flagship infrastructure scheme launched by the previous Left government and signal a shift toward projects the new United Democratic Front (UDF) administration deems environmentally and financially sustainable.