Kerala RRTS Corridor
Kerala RRTS Corridor is an approved 583 km Regional Rapid Transit System planned by the Kerala Rail Development Corporation (K-Rail), with NCRTC assisting on implementation, to connect Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod along the route once proposed for the cancelled SilverLine project. Its route map, phases and the latest updates are below.
After the Centre repeatedly declined to sanction K-Rail’s SilverLine semi-high-speed project, the Kerala Cabinet gave in-principle approval in January 2026 for an RRTS corridor covering the same Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod alignment instead. RRTS corridors fall under the Metro Rail Act rather than the Railways Act, giving the state a clearance path that does not need Railway Board sanction. The corridor is estimated to cost about ₹1,92,780 crore and is designed for 160 to 180 km/h running, well below bullet-train speeds but faster than conventional rail. Kerala’s 2026-27 budget set aside ₹100 crore for preliminary work.
The project is planned in two phases: a 284 km Travancore Line targeted for completion by 2033, and a Malabar Line extension targeted for 2036, with detailed station lists not yet published. As of March 2026 the central government had not yet received a detailed project report, so formal central clearance and firm construction timelines remain provisional.
Why it matters
This corridor is the direct successor to one of India’s most politically contested rail projects. Kerala spent nearly a decade seeking central sanction for SilverLine before cancelling it in May 2026; whether an RRTS corridor, cleared under the Metro Rail Act instead of the Railways Act, succeeds where SilverLine failed is a live test of that faster clearance route.
What happened to SilverLine?
SilverLine, K-Rail’s original 530.6 km semi-high-speed proposal for this same route, was formally cancelled by the Kerala Cabinet in May 2026 after the Centre withheld approval for years. See the SilverLine hub for that project’s history. A separate, independent proposal, Kerala High-Speed Rail (KHSR), has also emerged for the same north-south corridor.
Explore more
- India Metro & Rail Project Status Dashboard
- Quick Snapshot of tracked projects
- Metro & rail Tender Tracker
- Delhi Metro
- Kerala Silver Line (predecessor, cancelled)
- Namo Bharat & RRTS: the complete guide
- Latest Kerala RRTS Corridor project news
Official source: keralarail.com
Latest updates
Phases
| Phase | Lines | Stations | Length (km) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Travancore Line | - | 284 | Approved |
| Phase 2 | Malabar Line | - | - | Approved |
Milestones
- Kerala Cabinet gives in-principle approval for an RRTS corridor as SilverLine alternative
- SilverLine formally cancelled by the Kerala Cabinet
Frequently asked questions
What is the Kerala RRTS Corridor?
A planned 583 km Regional Rapid Transit System from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod, approved in principle by the Kerala Cabinet in January 2026 as a replacement for the cancelled SilverLine project.
What is the status of the Kerala RRTS Corridor?
As of 2026 it has in-principle state cabinet approval. A detailed project report has not yet reached the Centre, so construction has not started and timelines remain provisional.
How is this different from SilverLine?
SilverLine needed Railway Board sanction under the Railways Act and was cancelled in May 2026. RRTS corridors are cleared under the Metro Rail Act instead, a path the state expects to be faster.
How long is the Kerala RRTS Corridor?
About 583 km, planned in two phases: a 284 km Travancore Line and a Malabar Line extension, targeted for 2033 and 2036 respectively.
Journey Planner & Route Map
Awarded tenders & contracts
No awarded tenders or contracts recorded yet.
Ongoing tenders
No ongoing tenders for this project right now.
Upcoming tenders
No upcoming tenders announced yet.