New Delhi, June 8: In a major boost to railway infrastructure in Kerala, Indian Railways has approved the doubling of the 10.65-kilometre Mararikulam Alappuzha rail section under the Southern Railway zone at an estimated cost of Rs 220.51 crore.
The project forms part of Indian Railways’ broader capacity augmentation programme, which includes doubling, tripling, quadrupling, flyovers and bypass works across the national rail network. The Mararikulam Alappuzha stretch is currently the only remaining single-line section on the Ernakulam Turavur Alappuzha Ambalapuzha Kayankulam corridor, where other doubling works have either been completed or are in progress.
According to the Ministry of Railways, the project is expected to significantly enhance operational efficiency and capacity on the route. Upon completion, it will facilitate the operation of nine additional passenger trains in each direction daily and support freight movement of approximately 2.88 million tonnes per annum (MTPA).
Railway officials said the doubling work will reduce train detention, improve punctuality, and ensure smoother movement of both passenger and freight services. The project is also projected to generate additional annual net earnings of around Rs 3.08 crore through increased rail traffic.
The proposal has been identified under Indian Railways’ Mission 3000 MT and the High-Density Traffic Network Corridor initiative. It has demonstrated strong economic viability, recording a Financial Internal Rate of Return (FIRR) of 3.99 per cent and an Economic Internal Rate of Return (EIRR) of 22.30 per cent.
The approval underscores Indian Railways’ commitment to expanding network capacity, modernising infrastructure and supporting the socio-economic development of Kerala through improved connectivity.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Railways has also sanctioned the upgradation of the electric traction system on the Mahbubnagar Secunderabad Medchal section of South Central Railway and the Bengaluru Tumakuru section of South Western Railway.
The Bengaluru Tumakuru route, one of the busiest railway corridors in the country, will see its existing 1×25 kV electric traction system upgraded to a 2×25 kV system across 120 track kilometres at a cost of Rs 162.57 crore.
The section forms part of the strategically important Highly Utilised Network (HUN) Route-10, connecting major industrial and economic centres along the Pune Hubballi Chikjajur Birur Tumakuru Bengaluru Salem Kanniyakumari corridor.
The Ministry said the traction upgrade will help decongest a critical rail route serving the Bengaluru metropolitan region and surrounding districts while ensuring smoother passenger and freight operations across Karnataka and southern India.