Govt may clear revised tender for port rail link this week

Thiruvananthapuram: State govt is likely to give final approval this week to the rail connectivity project linking Vizhinjam International Seaport to the Balaramapuram railway station as the implementing agency, Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd (KRCL), is expected to submit the revised tender documents on Wednesday.Govt sources confirmed that the revised tender documents incorporate suggestions from various stakeholder consultations held in 2025, after officials flagged concerns over technical and procedural details. "Govt was in constant communication with KRCL regarding submission of the revised tender document. Final clearance will be issued once the revised document is received," said a source. Govt is likely to speed up proceedings as the model code of conduct for assembly elections will be announced any time next month.
KRCL was instructed to rework the documents following detailed feedback from state authorities, underlining alignment adjustments, risk mitigation and contractual safeguards. Only after state clearance of these revised terms can KRCL formally float the tender to invite bids for construction, sources said.The rail link, a pivotal component of port connectivity, includes a 10.7-km line with approximately 9.4-km underground tunnel between Vizhinjam and Balaramapuram in the district. The detailed project report (DPR), prepared by KRCL and sanctioned by the state, carried an estimated cost of Rs 1,482.92 crore. The tunnel alignment was chosen to minimise land acquisition and address geological constraints in this densely populated coastal region.State govt steadily cleared key approvals for the project in recent months. Finance department granted clearance in Jan 2026, followed by law department in Feb. With those prerequisites done, the revised tender is now the final administrative hurdle before construction bidding can begin.The rail link is critical for future competitiveness of Vizhinjam seaport, which began limited commercial operations in late 2024 and has since handled increasing volumes of container traffic. Connectivity to the national rail network at Balaramapuram will enable seamless movement of cargo across the hinterland and is expected to ease dependency on road transport.Once appointed, the contractor and KRCL will execute works aiming to operationalise rail connectivity by Dec 2028, in tandem with ongoing expansions of the port's infrastructure. Environmental regulators previously granted clearances, recognising the need for an underground alignment to minimise surface disruption across villages along the corridor.Earlier, proceedings were delayed due to a standoff between govt and KRCL over contract provisions. However, finance department later resolved it.In related developments aimed at strengthening the port's logistics ecosystem, state govt recently signed Rs 2,000 crore worth of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with central public sector enterprises to build inland container facilities, bunkering infrastructure and a multi-modal logistics park. This effort, involving partners such as the Indian Oil Corporation, Container Corporation of India and Central Warehousing Corporation, complements the railway link's strategic role in cargo movement nationwide.BoxVizhinjam–Balaramapuram project10.7-km railway line Nearly 9.4-km underground tunnel Estimated cost of Rs 1,482.92 croreTunnel alignment to minimise land acquisition and address geological constraints in densely populated coastal region