Indian Railways Approves Rs 220 Crore Mararikulam–Alappuzha Doubling Project to Boost Capacity

New Delhi, June 9 (KNN) Indian Railways has approved the doubling of the 10.65-km Mararikulam–Alappuzha section in Kerala at a cost of Rs 220.51 crore to strengthen rail capacity and improve operations on the Southern Railway network.

The project forms part of Indian Railways' capacity augmentation programme covering doubling, tripling, quadrupling, flyovers and bypass works. 

The Mararikulam–Alappuzha stretch is currently the only remaining single-line section on the Ernakulam–Alappuzha–Kayankulam corridor, where other doubling works have already been completed or are under implementation.

According to the Railways, the project is expected to enable the operation of nine additional passenger trains in each direction daily and support freight traffic of 2.88 million tonnes per annum.

The doubling work is also projected to generate additional annual earnings of about Rs 3.08 crore through increased passenger and freight movement.

The project is expected to improve line capacity, reduce train detention, enhance punctuality and facilitate smoother passenger and freight operations along the route.

Identified under Indian Railways' Mission 3000 MT and High Density Traffic Network Corridor initiatives, the project has an estimated Financial Internal Rate of Return (FIRR) of 3.99 per cent and an Economic Internal Rate of Return (EIRR) of 22.30 per cent.

(KNN Bureau)