Veteran technocrat and former Konkan Railway Chairperson E. Sreedharan revealed a new design for a semi high-speed rail corridor in Kerala. The revised plan for the Thiruvananthapuram-Kannur corridor includes Pathanamthitta and Malappuram in its alignment. Trains in this system are expected to run at speeds of up to 200 kmph, allowing for travel from end to end in 3 hours and 20 minutes.
The estimated project cost is around Rs 56,500 crore, with potential savings in operational energy costs. Sreedharan emphasized that the company would generate its power, leading to cost efficiencies. He highlighted the focus on passenger comfort, safety, punctuality, and cleanliness, with ticket fares aimed at being affordable, similar to AC chair car rates.
The design proposes that trains will make brief stops at stations, with longer halts at major hubs. The alignment will mainly consist of elevated viaducts and tunnels, reducing the need for extensive land acquisition and addressing environmental concerns. Sreedharan mentioned that the revised proposal was developed due to limited progress on the earlier submission and will soon be presented to the Union government for review.
The announcement coincides with the progress of a separate Regional Rapid Transit Corridor (RRTC) proposal by the Pinarayi Vijayan government in Kerala. The RRTC project, approved in principle by the state Cabinet, aims to establish a rapid inter-city transit system from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod. Budgetary provisions have been made for initial steps in this direction.
The differing approaches of Sreedharan’s high-speed rail model and the state’s RRTC plan highlight contrasting strategies to tackle Kerala’s transportation challenges. While Sreedharan’s model focuses on speed and elevated alignments to manage costs, the RRTC proposal aims to create an integrated regional transit network connecting major urban centers. The finalization of detailed project reports in the upcoming months will likely determine the preferred policy direction.
