Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is moving forward with a reimagined high-speed rail initiative, as the state cabinet has approved the 583-kilometer Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) connecting Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod. The decision marks a major shift in the state’s railway ambitions following the stalled approval of the earlier Silver Line project.
Officials clarified that the approval of the RRTS project comes after repeated setbacks in securing technical clearance from the Union Railway Ministry for the Silver Line. This new approach effectively supersedes the high-speed rail plan recently proposed by veteran engineer E. Sreedharan, which had envisioned a corridor from Thiruvananthapuram to Kannur.
Sreedharan had publicly announced that the Union Railway Minister had instructed the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the corridor, and that a dedicated office would be set up in Ponnani for DPR preparation. However, the state government emphasized that these plans were undertaken without its consultation, creating a procedural and administrative disconnect.
State Railways Minister Abdurahiman V. stated that no official communication regarding Sreedharan’s proposed project had been received from the Union Railway Ministry, reaffirming that the new RRTS initiative is fully endorsed and coordinated by the Kerala government.
Key Highlights of the RRTS Project
Speed: The high-speed corridor is designed to operate at 160–180 kilometers per hour, promising significantly reduced travel time across the state.
Construction Approach: To minimize environmental disruption and limit the need for extensive land acquisition, the project will primarily be built on elevated pillars. Officials noted that this method is particularly suitable for densely populated areas in Kerala, balancing efficiency with ecological sensitivity.
The RRTS plan is being hailed as a pragmatic and state-coordinated alternative to previous high-speed rail proposals, reflecting Kerala’s intent to modernize its transport infrastructure while addressing environmental and social considerations.