Engineering department recommends new railway station and bypass in Kollam

KOLLAM: Kollam is one of the important railway stations in Kerala. The plan of the Railways is to complete the winding railway lines in the state as part of increasing the speed. But when reaching Kollam Junction railway station (from Thiruvananthapuram) there is a sharp bend of eight degrees for about 700 meters. The train can run at a speed of only 30 kmph in this distance. No correction is possible here. It is in this context that the proposal of a new railway station and rail line has come.

Failure to complete the curve will adversely affect the acceleration of Vande Bharat, Janashatabdi and Superfast trains. Therefore, it is necessary to construct a third line, the recommendation given by the engineering department of the Kollam railway station. The recommendation is to construct a bypass from Iravipuram to Kallumthazham on the model of Nagercoil and Ernakulam.

Thiruvananthapuram Division is actively considering the proposal to establish a new railway line by constructing a railway station at Kallumthazham next to the Kollam Bypass (National Highway). At present, the Ernakulam- Thiruvananthapuram line and the Kollam- Punalur- Chenkotta line pass through Kallumthazham. The engineering department also points out that if a railway bypass is constructed at a distance of about nine kilometers from Iravipuram to Kallumthazham, the construction cost will be reduced.

Trains coming from Thiruvananthapuram side take ten to fifteen minutes to reach the station after passing SN College. The condition of trains from Kollam station to Thiruvananthapuram side is also the same. However, in this part of the city center, it is impossible to complete the curve on the current line. Both sides of the line are houses, businesses and roads. Considering this, the engineering department has proposed a bypass.