Lok Sabha Question No. 4518 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-19
Subject: RRTS/High-Speed Rail in Kerala
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Kodikunnil Suresh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4518

TO BE ANSWERED ON MARCH 19, 2026

## RRTS/HIGH-SPEED RAIL IN KERALA

NO. 4518.  SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  received  or  examined  any  proposal  for implementation of Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS), semi-high-speed rail or high-speed rail corridor in the State of Kerala during the last one year, if so, the details thereof along with the present status of such proposals;
- (b) the details of the proposed alignments, estimated project cost, funding pattern and the status of feasibility studies and preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) in respect of the above projects;
- (c) whether the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has been engaged for preparation of DPR, consultancy services or for providing any technical support in relation to any such project in Kerala, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  any  previously  served  Managing  Director  of  DMRC  has  been associated in any official advisory  or  consultancy capacity with any of the above-mentioned projects, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government has prepared any comprehensive plan for the State of Kerala with regard to speed enhancement of the existing railway network and integration of rapid/semi-high-speed/high-speed rail systems with  the  existing  railway  infrastructure  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof along with the proposed timelines for implementation?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI TOKHAN SAHU)

- (a) & (b):  'Urban planning' is a State subject. Therefore, the respective State Governments/UT Administrations are responsible for planning, initiating and  developing  RRTS  projects.  Central  Government  considers  financial assistance  to  RRTS  projects  based  on  feasibility  of  the  proposal  and availability  of  resources,  as  and  when  posed  by  the  concerned  State Governments/UT  Administrations.  Presently,  no  Detailed  Project  Report (DPR) of RRTS connectivity has been submitted to Central Government by the State Government of Kerala.
- (c) & (d): Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (DMRC) has informed that it was  engaged  for  preparation  of  the  Detailed  Project  Report  (DPR)  for High-speed corridor between Trivandrum to Kasargod, which  was submitted in  2019  by  DMRC  to  the  Kerala  High  Speed  Rail  Corporation Limited.  Shri  E.  Sreedharan,  the  former  Managing  Director,  DMRC,  was associated as Principal Advisor.

- (e):  Ministry of Railways has informed that it has identified various activities to  upgrade  the  track  infrastructure  for  speed  enhancement  which  are listed  at  Annexure-I.  Further,  the  details  of  speed  enhancement  in  the past  three  years  (i.e.  2022-23,  2023-24,  2024-25)  in  Southern  Railway covering the State of Kerala is attached at Annexure-II

*****

- I. Modern track structure consisting of 60kg, 90 Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) rails, Wider and heavier Pre-stressed Concrete Sleepers (PSC) with elastic fastening, fan-shaped layout turnout on PSC sleepers and H-beam Sleepers  on  girder  bridges  are  being  used  while  carrying  out  primary track renewals.
- II. The Thick Web Switches and Weldable CMS Crossings are being used in turnout renewal works.
- III. Supply of 260m long rail panels have been increased to avoid welding of joints, thereby improving safety and riding quality.
- IV. Thick  Web  Switch  Expansion  Joints  are  being  used  in  place  of  earlier Conventional/Improved SEJs.
- V. Adoption of better welding technology for rails i.e. Flash Butt Welding.
- VI. Adoption of mechanized system for track maintenance using high output plain tampers and points & crossing tampers for improved maintainability & reliability of track.
- VII. Deployment of state-of-the-art modern machines including Rail Grinding Machines to further improve asset reliability.
- VIII. Mechanisation of track laying activities through use of track machines like PQRS, TRT, T-28 etc.
- IX. Interlocking  of  Level  Crossing  (LC)  Gates  for  enhancing  safety  at  LC gates.
- X. Use of advanced Phased Array technology of testing of rail and welds.
- XI. Deployment of Integrated Track Monitoring Systems (ITMS) and Oscillation Monitoring System (OMS) for comprehensive health assessment to ascertain optimal maintenance requirements.
- XII. Adoption of portable Track Measuring Trolley for continuous recording of track parameters in yards.
- XIII. Using web enabled Track Management System (TMS) for integration and data analytics of the track inspection records received through various sources to enable precise maintenance inputs.

## Annexure-II

|   S.N. | Name of Section                      | Speed before raising (kmph)   |   Speed after raising (kmph) |
|--------|--------------------------------------|-------------------------------|------------------------------|
|      1 | Arakkonam Jn- Jolarpettai Jn         | 110                           |                          130 |
|      2 | Chennai Central -Gudur               | 110                           |                          130 |
|      3 | Chennai Central -Renigunta           | 110                           |                          130 |
|      4 | Arakkonam-Jolarpettai                | 110                           |                          130 |
|      5 | Nagercoil Jn-Aralvaymoli DN          | 90                            |                          110 |
|      6 | Melapalayam-Tirunelveli Jn UP        | 90                            |                          110 |
|      7 | Nagappattinam - Velanganni           | 80                            |                          110 |
|      8 | Tiruturaipundi- Agastiyampalli       | 80                            |                          110 |
|      9 | Virudunagar -Tenkasi                 | 100                           |                          110 |
|     10 | Madurai- Bodinayakkanur              | 100                           |                          110 |
|     11 | Manamadurai - Virudunagar            | 80                            |                          110 |
|     12 | Mandapam- Rameswaram                 | 90                            |                          110 |
|     13 | Nagercoil Jn-CAPE Up                 | 75                            |                          110 |
|     14 | Korkkupet-Attipattu III&IV line      | 70/85                         |                          110 |
|     15 | Chennai Central- Arakkonam Slow line | 105                           |                          110 |
|     16 | Karur-Dindugul                       | 100                           |                          110 |
|     17 | Pollachi-Palakkad                    | 100                           |                          110 |
|     18 | Aralvaymoli-Melappalayam New line    | 90                            |                          110 |
|     19 | Nagercoil- CAPE                      | 90                            |                          110 |
|     20 | Kayankulam-Thiruvananthapuram        | 100                           |                          110 |
|     21 | Ernakulam-Allepy-Kayankulam          | 80/90                         |                          110 |
|     22 | Villupuram-Thanjavur                 | 100                           |                          110 |
|     23 | Mayiladuthhurai-Thiruvarur           | 100                           |                          110 |
|     24 | Thiruvarur-Karaikudi                 | 60/75                         |                          110 |
|     25 | Nidamangalam-Mannargudi              | 80                            |                          110 |
|     26 | Thiruchchirrappalii-Karaikudi        | 100                           |                          110 |
|     27 | Karaikudi-Manamadurai                | 100                           |                          110 |
|     28 | Manmadurai-Mandapam                  | 90                            |                          110 |
|     29 | Madurai-Manamadurai                  | 100                           |                          110 |
|     30 | Madurai-Tirumangalam                 | 90/100                        |                          110 |
|     31 | Vanchimaniyachi-Tuticorin            | 90                            |                          110 |
|     32 | Chengalpattu-Takkolam                | 90                            |                          110 |
|     33 | Takkolam-Arakkonam                   | 75                            |                          110 |
|     34 | Tambaram- Chengalpattu-III line      | 90                            |                          110 |
|     35 | Salem Jn - Virudhachchalam Jn        | 80                            |                          110 |
|     36 | Coimbatore North Jn - Mettupalayam   | 100                           |                          110 |
|     37 | Salem - Karur (via Namakkal)         | 100                           |                          110 |
|     38 | Nagercoil Jn. - Tirunelveli          | 100                           |                          110 |
|     39 | Ponmalai--Thanjavur (UP)line         | 100                           |                          110 |
|     40 | Villupuram--Vellore                  | 80                            |                          110 |
|     41 | Vellore-Katpadi                      | 50                            |                          110 |
|     42 | Thanjavur-Thiruvarur                 | 90                            |                          110 |
|     43 | Thiruvarur-Nagore                    | 75                            |                          110 |
|     44 | Nagore-Karaikal                      | 50                            |                          110 |
|     45 | Villupuram-Puducherry                | 100                           |                          110 |
|     46 | Cuddalore Port Jn- Vadalur           | 60                            |                          110 |

|   47 | Vadalur-Virudhachchalam Jn                               | 75    |   110 |
|------|----------------------------------------------------------|-------|-------|
|   48 | Tirunelveli-Tenkasi                                      | 70    |   110 |
|   49 | Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur                                  | 70    |   110 |
|   50 | Dindugul-Palani-Pollachi                                 | 100   |   110 |
|   51 | Thirumangalam-Vanchimaniyachi- Tirunelveli               | 100   |   110 |
|   52 | Ernakulam-kottayam-Kayankulam                            | 90    |   100 |
|   53 | Nagercoil Jn-Thiruvananthapuram                          | 80    |   100 |
|   54 | Podanur- Kinathukadavu                                   | 80    |   100 |
|   55 | Madurai-Teni                                             | 80    |   100 |
|   56 | Teni-Bodinayakkanur                                      | 90    |   100 |
|   57 | Tambaram- Chengalpattu-III line                          | 90    |   100 |
|   58 | Coimbatore North Jn - Mettupalayam                       | 90    |   100 |
|   59 | Thiruchchirrappalii-Pudukkottai                          | 90    |   100 |
|   60 | Gangaikondan-Tirunelveli                                 | 90    |   100 |
|   61 | Tirumangalam-Tulukkappati                                | 90    |   100 |
|   62 | Kovilpatty-Kadambur                                      | 90    |   100 |
|   63 | Tulukkappati-Kovilpatty                                  | 90    |   100 |
|   64 | Palani-Pollachi                                          | 70    |   100 |
|   65 | Kinathukadavu- Pollachi                                  | 80    |    90 |
|   66 | Ettumanur-Cingavanam Dn                                  | 80    |    90 |
|   67 | Ettumanur-Cingavanam Up                                  | 80    |    90 |
|   68 | Teni-Bodinayakkanur                                      | 80    |    90 |
|   69 | Ernakulam-Mulanturutti DN                                | 70    |    90 |
|   70 | Ernakulam-Mulanturutti Up                                | 70    |    90 |
|   71 | PirvamRoad-Kuruppantara Up                               | 80    |    90 |
|   72 | Chenganacherri-Chenganur Dn                              | 80    |    90 |
|   73 | Mavelikara-Kayankulam Dn                                 | 70    |    90 |
|   74 | Kuruppantara- Ettumanur Up                               | 85    |    90 |
|   75 | Cingavanam-Chenganacherri Dn                             | 85    |    90 |
|   76 | Tattapparai-Milavittan                                   | 75    |    90 |
|   77 | Shoranur-Nilambur road                                   | 75    |    85 |
|   78 | Mangalore Central-Mangalore Jn (including via NTVT link) | 50    |    80 |
|   79 | Punalur-Kollam                                           | 70    |    80 |
|   80 | Jokkatee-Panambur                                        | 65/75 |    80 |
|   81 | Mangalore Jn- Jokkatte DN                                | 65    |    80 |
|   82 | Thiruthraipoondi-Agasthiyampalli                         | 70    |    80 |
|   83 | Ettumanur-Cingavanam Dn                                  | 50/70 |    80 |
|   84 | Ettumanur-Cingavanam Up                                  | 50    |    80 |
|   85 | Padil-Jokatate                                           | 60    |    80 |