Metro Man E. Sreedharan, the legendary engineer behind Delhi Metro’s success, has delivered a masterclass takedown of Kerala government’s Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) proposal, branding it impractical, technically flawed, and a blatant waste of taxpayer money—echoing his proven track record of delivering world-class infrastructure on time and budget.
RRTS Exposed as Foolish Suburban Stunt
Sreedharan slammed the 530-km Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod RRTS as unviable beyond short 60-70 km stretches like Trivandrum-Chengannur, where speeds would plummet, rendering the entire project pointless for Kerala’s connectivity crisis.
Unlike true rapid transit, RRTS can’t replace high-speed rail for state-spanning travel, averaging low speeds that make it inferior even to semi-high-speed options— a “foolish venture” and “election stunt” by the LDF government to distract from failures like the scrapped SilverLine.
Centre’s approval is unlikely under current policies, as RRTS suits suburbs, not long-haul corridors, proving the proposal is mere dust-throwing in public eyes.
Sreedharan’s Vision: Feasible High-Speed Rail Triumphs
Sreedharan champions a superior 430-km Trivandrum-Kannur high-speed corridor via Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), with himself as chief consultant, slashing travel to 3 hours 15 minutes at 200 kmph across 22 stations linking all major airports.
Smart design minimizes land acquisition to one-third of SilverLine: 70-75% elevated, 20% underground, 10% ground-level, with surplus pillar land leased for farming—costing ₹86,000-1 lakh crore, completable in 5 years via Centre-state funding and loans.
DPR work starts February 2 from a dedicated office, with Centre’s formal nod imminent—Sreedharan personally pitched it after Kerala govt’s inaction despite CM Vijayan’s initial nod.
Kerala’s Flip-Flops vs Sreedharan’s Proven Expertise
State initially embraced high-speed talks but backed off formally, now pivoting to RRTS after Centre rejected their high-speed bid—exposing policy confusion and technical incompetence.
Sreedharan questions the sudden shift post his Centre discussions, stressing land acquisition needs state will, which RRTS dodges while lacking utility.
Even opposition leader V.D. Satheesan backs viable rail projects, aligning with Sreedharan’s environmentally sound, financially prudent high-speed plan over RRTS gimmickry.
Why Sreedharan is Kerala’s Rail Savior
At 93, Metro Man’s Delhi Metro revolutionized urban transit without waste; his Kerala blueprint cuts road accidents, boosts economy, and honors his legacy—urging Centre to fast-track while sidelining LDF’s distractions for real progress.
