Konkan Rail Corporation Ltd set to float tender for Vizhinjam tunnel rail connectivity in July
Thiruvananthapuram: The long-awaited tunnel rail connection project between Balaramapuram railway station and Vizhinjam International Seaport is set to move ahead this July.
The Konkan Rail Corporation Ltd (KRCL) is preparing to float a tender for detailed design and construction.
According to sources within KRCL, tender issuance is expected once the draft document receives final clearance from Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd (VISL), the state-owned port authority overseeing the project.
The project will be executed under an engineering, procurement & construction (EPC) model.
Once the tender opens, it is expected to follow a three-month window to select the contractor. The winning bidder will then have another three months to complete the final design. Construction is scheduled to begin in Jan 2026, said an official familiar with the plan.
Ahead of this, land acquisition efforts are progressing. At Balaramapuram end, VISL is set to take possession of acquired land by the end of July. Meanwhile, on Vizhinjam side land acquisition is pending, as the authorities need to conduct a crucial meeting involving local fishermen and church representatives, who have expressed concerns about the tunnel's construction.
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An official close to the project said, "We will initiate talks with fishermen's representatives soon to address their concerns and ensure all community apprehensions are resolved before possession of land."
At present, 19 families reside in the affected area at Vizhinjam. The compensation of Rs 190 crore delivered by VISL is being dispersed by the district administration to landowners. Further disbursements are underway following the formal takeover of the site.
In Balaramapuram, the existing station will be relocated approximately 600m south to make way for a container yard and approach tracks linking to the tunnel.
Meanwhile, the VISL is planning to set up a container rail terminal (CRT) near Neyyattinkara railway station. However, nothing has been finalised yet, and discussions are ongoing between the govt and Southern Railways.
The railway tunnel is a key component of state govt's efforts to boost connectivity to the Vizhinjam deep-water port.
Spanning 10.7km, of which 9.4km will run underground, the tunnel will enable direct freight rail access between the port and the railway network. This alignment has been chosen to minimise land acquisition, environmental disruption, and community displacement. The tunnel will be constructed using the new Austrian tunnelling method (NATM), with a depth ranging from 25 to 30m below ground level.
Freight trains are expected to complete the passage through the tunnel in about 36 minutes, at speeds ranging from 15 to 30 km/h.
The state cabinet granted administrative approval for the project in March 2025, with the revised estimated cost pegged at Rs 1,482.92 crore. Environmental clearance for the project was granted in July 2024. Once completed, the tunnel will be one of the longest railway tunnels in India and is expected to significantly improve cargo handling efficiency at Vizhinjam port. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2028.
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