The debate on the SilverLine semi-high-speed rail project organised by K-Rail has hit an air pocket with Alok Verma, former Railways Chief Engineer, informing the Chief Secretary that he will not take part in the conclave after the government failed to address the issues raised by him.
Another critic of the project, Sridhar Radhakrishnan, an engineer-cum-environmentalist, also expressed his unwillingness to attend the discussion over the manner in which authorities invited him to the meet.
However, K-Rail officials said they would go ahead with the debate on Thursday as scheduled. No new experts would be invited. Instead, environmental scientist R.V.G. Menon, who is on the opposing panel, would be given more time to express his views, they said adding it was not right to approach someone in the eleventh hour.
