Rs 100 crore for initial works of high-speed rail corridor, to be completed in four phases

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: An amount has been earmarked in the budget for the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project. Finance Minister K N Balagopal announced that RRTS will be implemented in four phases. Urban metros will be connected. The minister also stated that Rs 100 crore will be allocated for initial work. The decision is to implement the RRTS project from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod over a length of 583 km instead of K-Rail project.

The cabinet meet had approved the RRTS project yesterday. A formal letter will be sent to the central government expressing the state's interest in the project. The cabinet has also tasked the transport department to initiate necessary consultations for the same.

If approved, it can be completed within 12 years. After discussions with the central government, a memorandum of understanding will be signed as soon as the in-principle approval of the center is received. The transport department will submit the final approval regarding the technical and financial aspects of the project and sources of credit for the consideration of the cabinet. K Rail's Silver Line project, which aimed to provide high-speed rail connectivity from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod, was stalled due to technical objections from the Indian Railways.

In four phases

• The construction of the first phase (Thiruvananthapuram-Thrissur) of 284 km is expected to begin in 2027 and be completed by 2033
• In the second phase, the Malabar Line from Thrissur to Kozhikode will be implemented along with the Kozhikode Metro
• In the third phase, the Kozhikode-Kannur line and the Kannur-Kasargod line will be completed
• It will be later extended to Coimbatore via Palakkad, from Thiruvananthapuram to Kanyakumari and to Mangalore via Kasaragod.