Kerala Cabinet approves detailed project report for Vizhinjam underground railway line

The Vizhinjam international seaport (file)
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

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 on Wednesday (March 19, 2025) approved the detailed project report (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 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.

The project has already received environmental clearance from the Central government. Kerala has also submitted a proposal to the Centre to provide funds for the rail connectivity project through various schemes of the Central government, such as PM Gati Shakti, Scheme for Special Assistance for States for Capital Investment, Sagarmala, Rail Sagar etc.

Land acquisition

The land acquisition for constructing a rail link has already begun, and the process for acquiring 4.697 hectares belonging to Balaramapuram, Pallichal, and Athiyannur villages is in the final stages, while the acquisition of 0.829 hectares in Vizhinjam village is also progressing.

The Vizhinjam International Seaport began commercial operations by December 3, 2024 and the port has handled over 4 lakh TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) cargo by facilitating the berthing of over 200 ships till now.

However, the lack of rail and road connectivity to the port has been hindering the State from fully utilising the port’s potential.