Centre to soon approve construction of railway tunnel to Vizhinjam at cost of Rs 1200 cr

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The central government will soon approve the construction of an underground railway to be built in connection with the Vizhinjam international seaport. As per sources, the approval of the Union Ministry of Environment for the railway, which will be constructed at a cost of Rs 1200 crores, will be given in the month of May itself. Vizhinjam seaport officials say that the expert committee appointed by the Ministry of Environment has given a detailed reply to the issues raised in the meeting held in April. According to the officials, the approval will be given within two weeks based on the committee's recommendation.

A 10.7 km long rail will be constructed from the port city of Vizhinjam to Balaramapuram through a tunnel. As it is a tunnel, permission from the Union Ministry of Environment is required. Nine kilometers of the entire route will pass underground.

The rail that connect to the Karimpallikkara side extends to the harbor over the pillars so as not to affect the people's lives. About half a hectare of land will have to be acquired for this. The outline of the underground railway starts from Vizhinjam and reaches Mudavoorpara and turns towards Nemom and Neyyatinkara. About 5 hectares of land needs to be acquired in Balaramapuram for the construction of the road. Rs 1200 crores have been allocated for the project undertaken by Konkan Rail Corporation.