Kerala's Vizhinjam Port gets 9-km underground railway project

The Kerala government is moving forward with a railway line project at Vizhinjam port, set to be completed by 2028. This line will help transport containers from the port to Balaramapuram, linking it to the Thiruvananthapuram-Kanyakumari railway route. The railway line will cover a total of 10.7 kilometers, with 9.02 kilometers being underground. The project has an estimated cost of Rs 1,482 crore and is managed by Konkan Railways. The state's cabinet has approved the Detailed Project Report prepared by Konkan Rail Corporation. Funding for the project will come from central government schemes like Sagarmala and PM Gati Shakti. If additional funds are needed, a loan from NABARD may be sought. The railway will be located 15 to 30 meters beneath the surface to avoid disrupting populated areas. Balaramapuram railway station will also be upgraded into a signalling station, with a planned investment of Rs 240 crore. This station will be moved slightly towards Neyyattinkara to accommodate the changes. Land acquisition for the project involves 6.04 hectares across several villages. This includes land from Vizhinjam, Balaramapuram, Pallichal, and Athiyannur. The initial feasibility study for the railway was signed in 2018 with an estimated cost of Rs 1,032 crore at that time.