Kerala has given in-principle approval for a 583 km-long Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) with a ₹1,92,780 crore budget. The project will link Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod. The first phase covers 284 km from Thiruvananthapuram to Thrissur and will run from 2027 to 2033. It includes integration with Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi metro networks. The state transport department will send the proposal to the Central government and start consultations for clearance. The RRTS will be mostly elevated on pillars. This reduces land acquisition, avoids blocking natural water flow, and lowers public opposition compared to ground-level tracks. The entire RRTS could be completed in about 12 years, with funding split as 20% by Kerala, 20% by the Centre, and 60% from international loans, following Delhi's RRTS funding model. Subsequent phases will connect Thrissur to Kozhikode, Kozhikode to Kannur, and Kannur to Kasaragod, along with plans to extend to Coimbatore, Kanyakumari, and Mangaluru. The new plan follows objections and protests against the earlier SilverLine semi-high-speed rail project. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said a high-speed rail will come to Kerala eventually but did not share details yet.