Thiruvananthapuram: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has approached the Union govt seeking a positive response to establish a regional rapid transit system (RRTS) along the Thiruvananthapuram–Kasargod corridor, modelled on the Delhi–Meerut RRTS. The state cabinet recently decided to explore the RRTS option after earlier plans for a semi-high-speed rail network ran into public opposition and failed to secure the Centre’s clearance. In a letter to Union minister for housing and urban affairs Manohar Lal Khattar, Vijayan referred to Khattar’s statement at the urban conclave held in Kochi, in which he had expressed willingness to consider an RRTS proposal for Kerala. Vijayan informed the minister about the Cabinet’s decision taken on Jan 28, 2026, to examine the feasibility of implementing the system in the state. “The conceptual note for RRTS Kerala is appended. We believe that this would be a project of critical importance to the state’s long-term sustainable mobility strategy. Kerala represents a unique urban and demographic context in India, functioning as a near-urban continuum corridor with a dense population distributed along the Thiruvananthapuram–Kasargod axis,” the chief minister said in the letter released by CMO on Saturday. He noted that Kerala’s linear pattern of urbanization, coupled with one of the highest vehicle densities in the country, has placed enormous pressure on the state’s road infrastructure. “Traffic congestion and accidents impose significant socio-economic costs, underscoring the urgent need for a high-capacity, high-speed mass transit solution. At the same time, Kerala’s unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability necessitates a mobility framework that reduces carbon emissions while improving safety and efficiency,” he said. The chief minister said the state had closely studied the Delhi–Meerut RRTS corridor. Its operational efficiency, advanced technological framework, passenger-oriented design and seamless integration with urban transport networks demonstrate that the RRTS model, when adapted to Kerala’s geographical and demographic realities, can offer a practical and effective mobility solution. The state govt envisions an integrated rapid transit ecosystem in which the proposed RRTS network would complement and connect Kochi Metro and the Metro projects under consideration in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, as well as all four airports, the CM said. He added that NCRTC’s expertise in implementing and operating RRTS projects, combined with Kerala’s experience in executing complex infrastructure projects while safeguarding environmental and social considerations, could make the collaboration nationally significant.
