Sustainability considerations obligatorily have been the prime objective while planning for any development proposition. Fore sighting the potential short-and long-term implications of the development decisions and their interconnection with climate change is an imperative responsibility of the proponent. Kerala’s ‘Silverline Rail’ is a proposed semi-high-speed rail corridor project that connects the 11 districts of the state from Kasaragod in the north to Trivandrum in the south. Considering the alarming climate sensitivity and unpredicted floods of the preceding years in the State of Kerala, it is critical to have faultless impact prediction and precise mitigation strategies. The uncertain concerns about the project’s environmental and economic viability have led to solid state-wide public opposition towards the published Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Detailed Project Report. This paper attempts to comprehend the viability and environmental impacts of Kerala’s silver line rail project with the Rapid Environmental Impacts Assessment procedure. The assessment indicators were identified, and impact prediction was carried out through expert group consultation. The appraisal of the K-Rail project was then processed using Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix (RIAM), and the results are discussed. The need for an inclusive approach with the capacity to bring together the society, economy and environment and to go beyond the policy and political framework is indispensable for the success of any development initiative. The results obtained from the study re-iterated the necessity to find a balance between development and environment with the comprehension of the global impact of every decision we make as a foundation of sustainable development.