Kerala writes to Centre to undertake feasibility study for RRTS

The Kerala government has requested the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to facilitate discussions with the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), which implemented the Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), for undertaking feasibility studies and developing a comprehensive RRTS framework in Kerala.

Recalling the announcement made by Union Minister for Power and Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar during the Urban Conclave held in Kochi on September 12, 2025 that the Ministry is willing to consider a proposal for an RRTS project in Kerala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the State Cabinet accorded in-principle approval for the project on January 28, 2026 for going ahead with the proposal for implementing RRTS in Kerala.

In a letter to Mr. Khattar, he said the RRTS would be a project of critical importance to the State’s long-term sustainable mobility strategy. The State functions as a near-urban continuum corridor, with dense population spread along the Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod axis. This linear urbanisation, combined with one of the highest vehicle densities in the country, has placed extraordinary pressure on the road infrastructure. Traffic congestion and road accidents continue to impose significant socio-economic costs, underscoring the urgent need for a high-capacity, high-speed mass transit solution.

A study on the Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor proved that the system’s operational efficiency, advanced technological framework, strong passenger orientation, and seamless integration with urban transport networks have clearly demonstrated that the RRTS model, when suitably adapted to Kerala’s geographical and demographic realities, can offer a practical and effective mobility solution for the State, the letter said.

Kerala already has an operational metro system in Kochi, with the Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode Metro in stages of planning. The State envisages an integrated rapid transit ecosystem, wherein an RRTS network complements and connects these three metro systems, links all major airports in the State — Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kannur, and Calicut — and enables seamless, high-speed inter-city and intra-regional mobility. Such integration would significantly enhance ridership, optimise infrastructure investments, and deliver transformative outcomes for the State.

Stressing the strong demand for high-speed rail services, the letter pointed out that the Vande Bharat Express services are operating in the State with the highest occupancy rates in the country, validating public appetite for fast, reliable, and high-quality rail connectivity.

The NCRTC’s proven expertise in planning, implementation, and operation of RRTS projects, combined with Kerala’s track record in executing complex infrastructure projects while safeguarding environmental and social considerations, would make this collaboration one of national importance. Such an initiative could also serve as a replicable model for other densely populated regional corridors across the country, Mr. Vijayan said.

Hence, necessary directions be issued to the concerned agencies to initiate discussions with the State government, the letter said, adding that the government has entrusted the State Transport department to further coordinate with the NCRTC and the Ministry in this regard.