Noted technocrat E. Sreedharan criticized the Kerala government’s Thiruvananthapuram–Kasaragod Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project, labeling it impractical and a waste of public funds. He argued that the proposal lacked utility for Kerala and was even inferior to a semi-high-speed rail project. Sreedharan emphasized that extending the RRTS beyond the Thiruvananthapuram–Chengannur stretch would necessitate reducing train speeds, defeating the system’s purpose.
Sreedharan expressed disappointment in the government’s decision, stating that the RRTS project seemed to be an attempt to deceive the public. He highlighted the importance of practicality in project implementation, questioning the rationale behind a project that would require speed reductions. Sreedharan also raised concerns about the government’s shift from a high-speed rail proposal to the RRTS, citing technical shortcomings and policy ambiguity.
The technocrat noted the necessity of government support for land acquisition in rail projects, emphasizing that without it, projects could not progress. He criticized the lack of clarity in the government’s policy decisions and technical planning, suggesting that the shift from high-speed rail to RRTS indicated a failure in policy thinking. Sreedharan’s remarks followed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s announcement of exploring RRTS as an alternative after the Railway Ministry rejected Kerala’s high-speed rail corridor proposal.
