Kerala rail works worth over Rs 20,000 crore under way, says Vaishnaw

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Monday that railway projects valued at more than Rs 20,000 crore are currently under execution in Kerala, as the state moves into the next phase of network expansion. He made the remarks after meeting MPs from Kerala to discuss the development of the railway network and operational problems in the Mangaluru railway area.

According to the minister, the Mangaluru railway area had been split across three zones, a arrangement that has caused serious operational difficulties. Keeping Mangaluru within the South Western Railway zone, he said, would resolve the problem. He added that Kerala's railway development was discussed with the MPs and separately with Chief Minister V D Satheesan.

In a series of posts on X, Vaishnaw said the ongoing works cover nine multitracking and new-line projects, 145 flyovers and underpasses, and 19 station redevelopment projects, aimed at building capacity and making operations smoother and more efficient across the state.

Future expansion plans include detailed project reports for more than 800 km of third- and fourth-line augmentation across six sections, intended to strengthen north-south capacity through Kerala. The sections are Shoranur-Coimbatore (99 km), Mangaluru-Shoranur (307 km), Shoranur-Ernakulam (106 km), Ernakulam-Kayankulam (115 km), Kayankulam-Thiruvananthapuram (105 km) and Thiruvananthapuram-Nagercoil (71 km).

Among the sanctioned projects listed by the minister are the 116-km Angamali-Sabarimala new line at Rs 3,801 crore, the 8-km Ernakulam-Kumbalam doubling at Rs 828 crore, the 16-km Kumbalam-Thuravur patch doubling at Rs 1,171 crore and the 5-km Shoranur-Vallathol Nagar patch doubling, including yard modifications, at Rs 367 crore.

The list also includes the 38-km Tirunnavaya-Guruvayur new line at Rs 144 crore, the 87-km Trivandrum-Kanyakumari doubling at Rs 4,509 crore, the 21-km Thuravur-Mararikulam doubling at Rs 434 crore, the 12-km Alappuzha-Ambalapuzha doubling at Rs 313 crore and the 11-km Mararikulam-Alappuzha doubling at Rs 221 crore.

Vaishnaw said Kerala's network has already seen substantial expansion. Over the past 12 years, the state has achieved full railway electrification, completed doubling and gauge-conversion works, built 131 flyovers and underpasses, and redeveloped 16 stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.

Since 2014, six major doubling and gauge-conversion projects covering 670 km have been completed at a total cost of Rs 4,316 crore. These include the 18-km Ambalapuzha-Haripad doubling at Rs 346 crore, the 27-km Chengannur-Chingavanam doubling at Rs 436 crore, the 217-km Dindigul-Pollachi-Palghat and Pollachi-Coimbatore gauge conversion at Rs 1,360 crore, the 27-km Kurruppanthara-Chingavanam doubling at Rs 749 crore, the 24-km Mulanturutti-Kurruppantara doubling at Rs 303 crore and the 357-km Quilon-Tiruchendur gauge conversion at Rs 1,122 crore.

On capacity works, the minister said 145 road overbridges and underbridges are under construction at Rs 4,786 crore, comprising 136 ROBs, eight RUBs and one pedestrian subway. Of these, 52 projects are delayed, including 34 because of land acquisition, 13 because of finalisation of alignment and five because no agency has been engaged.

Land acquisition remains a key constraint. Against a total requirement of 618 hectares, only 78 hectares, or 13 per cent, has been acquired, leaving 540 hectares, or 87 per cent, still to be acquired. Railways has already deposited Rs 1,976 crore with the Kerala government for land acquisition. Projects facing delays on this account include the 111-km Angamali-Sabarimala new line, the Ernakulam-Kumbalam patch doubling, the Kumbalam-Thuravur patch doubling and the Shoranur-Vallathol doubling.

Passenger connectivity has also expanded, with six Vande Bharat Express services operating and linking Kerala with Mangaluru, Kasaragod, Thiruvananthapuram and Bengaluru. These include the Mangaluru Central-Thiruvananthapuram Central, Kasaragod-Thiruvananthapuram Central and KSR Bengaluru-Ernakulam Junction services in both directions.

More than 180 new stoppages have been provided in Kerala over the last five years, while 22 new train services have been introduced in the last two years. MEMU services have also been started on the Ernakulam-Kayamkulam, Shoranur-Nilambur Road, Kollam-Ernakulam and Palakkad-Pollachi routes.

Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, 35 stations across the state are being redeveloped at a total cost of Rs 3,111 crore. Sixteen of these have been completed, including Angamali for Kaladi, Chalakudi, Changanassery, Chirayinkeezh, Ferok, Guruvayur, Kuttippuram, Mavelikara, Nilambur Road, Parappanangadi, Shoranur, Thalassery, Tirur, Tripunithura, Vadakara and Wadakancheri.

Vaishnaw also said the Centre's railway allocation for Kerala has risen to Rs 3,795 crore in FY26-27, compared with Rs 372 crore in 2014.