Taking a jibe at technocrat E. Sreedharan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said that despite the state approaching the Union Ministry of Railways with Mr. Sreedharan’s high-speed rail proposal, the Center refused to give its nod. In this context, the state government came up with a proposal for a regional rapid transit system (RRTS) for high-speed rail transport.
After inaugurating a public meeting organized in connection with the Loka Kerala Sabha, the Chief Minister said that he along with KV Thomas, Special Representative of Kerala in New Delhi, had approached the Union Railway Minister with a proposal for the High Speed Rail project. However, the Union Ministry of Railways did not give its approval.
It is the priority of the state government to offer higher speed rail travel to the people of Kerala. The state delegation met the Union Railway Minister as suggested by Mr. Sreedharan to make the project a reality. However, the state had to face a lot of hurdles despite Mr. Sreedharan’s intervention, he said.
Published – 29 Jan 2026 23:37 IST
