The Kerala Cabinet has approved the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for a Rs 14.82 billion underground railway line connecting Vizhinjam International Port to Balaramapuram railway station, targeting completion by December 2028.

Designed by Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL), the 10.7-km-long railway corridor features a 9.43-km underground tunnel, necessitated by the region’s geological conditions. The project has secured administrative clearance, and land acquisition is nearing completion.

KRCL was assigned the DPR in 2018, which was submitted to Southern Railway in 2019. Following approval in 2022, the project received clearance from the Ministry of Environment on 17 July 2024.

Meanwhile, a 1.7-km road linking the port to NH-66 is also under development. Once Vizhinjam Port commences gateway container movement, these road and rail links are expected to significantly boost regional economic activity.