In a major connectivity and infrastructure boost for the state of Kerala, the Government of India has given an in-principle approval to the Silver Line, a semi-high speed railway project between State's capital city of Thiruvananthapuram and city of Kasaragod, reports Asian News International (ANI).

The project once completed would reduce the time taken to travel between the two cities from present 12 hours to just four hours, with the trains able to run at a speed of up to 200 kmph.

According to the report, the project is being implemented by the Kerala Rail Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL), a joint venture of the Indian Railways and state government.

The project was found to be financially viable in a primary feasibility study, following which the state cabinet approved the project and sent it to the Ministry of Railways for further approval.

Railways Ministry led by Piyush Goyal gave its in-principle approval to the project that is estimated to cost around Rs 66,079 crore.