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A survey conducted to ascertain public perception about a proposed high-speed train project in 11 districts in Kerala has generated approval ratings of 88 per cent.
The mega project is being piloted by the Kerala High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (KHSRCL), a state government-owned organisation.
The KHSRCL had commissioned C fore , a research organisation for the purpose. The survey was carried out between between November 23, 2016 and January 14, 2017.
AWARENESS LEVEL
The survey results point to a groundswell of support for the project, cutting across cast, community and class lines. At least 73 per cent of the respondents were aware of the project; of them, as much as 88 per cent approved of the project.
According to the survey, 82 per cent of those who were unaware of the project had approved of it when the interviewer explained to them about it. Overall, 86 per cent of the respondents approved of the project.
The approval rating was over 80 per cent in each of the 11 districts where the survey was conducted, C fore representatives said.
TIME SAVING
The main reason given by respondents for the approval was saving time in commuting from one part of Kerala to another. Many also believed that the project would be a catalyst for development of the state.
It would also help bring down pollution levels as better public transport would result in fewer private vehicles on the road.
Meanwhile, a majority of the respondents who opposed the project feared it might displace a large number of people and would also entail acquisition of private land.
SAMPLE SIZE
Explaining the sample size and sampling plan of the survey, C fore said all Assembly constituencies in each of the 11 districts were covered and 100 to 120 voters were interviewed using a structured schedule.
The respondents were randomly selected from the voter list, using a special computer software. Thus, in each of the 11 districts, about 1,200 voters were interviewed. In all, the aggregate sample size made for 13,447 voters.
One voter from each household was interviewed. Female voters represented 49 per cent of the sample. The rest of the categories include Ezhavas (21 per cent); dalits (12 per cent); Muslims (23 per cent); Christians (20 per cent); and Nairs (15 per cent). All respondents were above 18 years of age.
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