Thiruvananthapuram: The Ministry of Railways has approved detailed project report surveys for seven major railway development works in Kerala, marking an important step toward improving train capacity and speed across the state.
The approved surveys will examine feasibility, alignment, costs and environmental impact before final decisions are taken. Officials said the projects aim to reduce congestion, improve connectivity and enable faster train operations.
The proposed works include additional railway lines and track doubling across key routes. These are Shoranur to Mangaluru third and fourth lines, Coimbatore to Shoranur third and fourth lines, Shoranur to Ernakulam third line, Ernakulam to Kayankulam third line via Kottayam, Kayankulam to Thiruvananthapuram third line, Thiruvananthapuram to Nagercoil third line, and doubling of the Turavur to Ambalappuzha section.
Together, the corridors cover more than 600 kilometres and pass through some of the busiest railway stretches in Kerala. Railway authorities believe the expansion will allow more trains to operate while improving punctuality and passenger comfort.
The upgrades are also planned to support train speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour on suitable stretches, which could significantly reduce travel time within the state and improve links with neighbouring regions.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has stated that project approvals follow a multi stage process. After the DPRs are prepared, the proposals must be reviewed in consultation with the Kerala government and cleared by agencies including NITI Aayog and the Finance Ministry before construction begins.
The development comes amid ongoing discussions about strengthening Kerala’s rail network to meet rising passenger demand and support economic growth. Improved rail infrastructure is expected to benefit tourism, freight movement and daily commuters.
However, railway projects in the state have often faced challenges such as land acquisition delays and environmental concerns. The DPR process is expected to address these issues and help determine the practical path forward.
If approved and funded, the projects could transform rail travel in Kerala by easing bottlenecks and providing faster and more reliable services across the state.