Thiruvananthapuram: As an alternative to the K-Rail project, the State Government is now considering a Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) similar to the metro model. Approval for such projects is given by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, and because RRTS is brought under the Metro Act, the clearance process is expected to be comparatively faster.

The Government believes that instead of a high-speed rail project, a rapid transit system connecting urban centres would be more suitable for Kerala. A new Detailed Project Report (DPR) will need to be prepared. The system is expected to be implemented as a semi–high-speed corridor, and it does not require approval from the Railway Board. Kerala is studying the Delhi–Meerut RRTS, a 82-kilometre corridor currently under construction, as the model to follow.

A key feature of RRTS is that it requires construction of tracks independent of existing railway lines. In contrast, the proposed SilverLine project had planned to share sections of railway land. The RRTS alignment must be designed completely avoiding railway land.

Tamil Nadu has already begun preliminary studies for three RRTS corridors. Kerala too will have to arrange its own funding for the project. Once Central approval is secured, obtaining loans will be possible. The procedural requirements are far less complex than those under the Railway Ministry.

Railways: Studies under way for third and fourth tracks

Railways has recommended doubling and capacity expansion of the existing lines. According to the Ministry of Railways, the DPR for the Kasaragod–Shoranur third and fourth tracks has been completed. Studies are currently ongoing for the Shoranur–Palakkad–Coimbatore third and fourth tracks, Ernakulam–Kottayam third track, Kayamkulam–Thiruvananthapuram third track and Thiruvananthapuram–Nagercoil third track.

Land acquisition along the existing rail corridor remains a major challenge in the state. Therefore, Railways maintains that the State Government must provide land for the new tracks.