The Kerala government is set to issue a tender next month for the proposed tunnel rail connectivity project linking Vizhinjam International Seaport with Balaramapuram railway station. At a high-level review meeting on Saturday, officials from the state government, Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd (VISL), and Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd (KRCL) examined draft tender documents prepared by KRCL. While the presentation won broad acceptance, VISL and government representatives suggested modifications, prompting a final round of consultations in early September before the tender is formally released.
The project, estimated at ₹1,483 crore, will be awarded on an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) basis. It involves a 10.7-km alignment, of which 9.4 km will be tunnelled using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), reaching depths of 25–30 metres. Trains will traverse the tunnel in about 36 minutes, travelling at 15–30 km/h.
The rail link is expected to open up Vizhinjam to hinterland markets in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. However, delays in land acquisition remain a key hurdle for the project rollout. Construction is targeted to begin in 2026 and be completed by the end of 2028.
