A high-level meeting held here on Friday has decided to consult all political parties on ways to proceed with the proposed trans-Kerala high-speed rail corridor project to link Thiruvananthapuram with Kasaragode.

The meeting was preceded by a presentation on the project before the Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, based on a feasibility report on the first phase of the project, which is expected to cost of tens of thousands of crores of rupees.

The presentation was conducted at the Chief Minister's office in the State Assembly by Mr E. Sreedharan, Chairman, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.

Among those present on the occasion were Mr P. K. Kunhalikkutty, Minister for Industries and IT; Mr Aryadan Mohammed, Minister for Electricity; Mr K. Babu, Minister for Ports and Excise; Mr K. M. Chandrasekhar, Vice-Chairman, and Mr G. Vijaya Raghavan, Member, State Planning Board; and Mr T. Balakrishnan, Principal Secretary, Industries.

The feasibility report says that the first phase from Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi might entail an investment of Rs 43,254 crore.

The report goes on to suggest that it would be ideal to extend the high-speed rail corridor link to further beyond Kasaragode towards the north and up to Mangalore.

Work on the project is expected to commence in 2013; and would be completed over the next seven-year period.

The second phase that would link Kochi with Mangalore might need an investment of a little over Rs 1.18 lakh crore.

Although the maximum speed that can be achieved is 350 km per hour on the proposed high-speed track, 300 km per hour is the best that could be clocked in practical terms.

The 220-km length between and Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram is expected to be covered in 45 minutes .

A passenger train will be able to carry 817 guests and there will be nine stations between Thiruvananthapuram and Mangalore.

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