Kerala Cabinet approves DPR for railway line linking Vizhinjam Port

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday March 19, approved a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for an underground railway line linking Vizhinjam Port and Balaramapuram Railway Station.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, “With an investment of Rs 1,482.92 crore, this transformative project targeted for completion by December 2028.”Giving momentum to the proposed underground railway line connecting the Vizhinjam port with the Balaramapuram railway station as part of linking the seaport with the existing Indian railway network, the Kerala Cabinet meeting held here approved the (DPR) prepared by Konkan Rail Corporation Limited (KRCL) for the construction of the railway line, including the rail tunnel, billed as the third longest one in the country.

The project will strengthen Kerala’s position as a global hub of maritime trade and logistics, he added.The administrative approval has been given for the project, which is estimated to cost ₹1,482.92 crore, and the project should be completed before December 2028 as per the new agreement with the Adani Vizhinjam Private Port Limited (AVPPL). According to the DPR prepared by the Konkan Rail Corporation, a 10.7-km-long railway line has been envisaged, including a 9.43-km-long tunnel.