Thiruvananthapuram, February 10 Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi stated on Tuesday that the central government has approved two railway projects that will ease the travel difficulties faced by the people of the state and ensure smoother movement of goods.
Gopi, the Union Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Tourism, said that the two projects – doubling of the Alappuzha-Ambalappuzha line and the Palakkad town-Parali bypass line – will boost development in Kerala.
In a Facebook post, the minister stated that ₹324.16 crore has been sanctioned for the doubling of the 12.66 kilometer long Alappuzha-Ambalappuzha line.
He said that the project will help address the congestion on the Ernakulam-Thuravoor-Kayamkulam route.
It will also enable the operation of nine new passenger trains in both directions daily, as well as the smooth movement of goods, which will lead to a significant increase in railway revenue, he added.
Gopi further stated that ₹163.57 crore has been sanctioned for the 1.8 km Palakkad town-Parali bypass line, which will reduce waiting times at Palakkad junction due to engine changes.
He said that this will reduce the travel time for passenger trains by 40-44 minutes and for freight trains by 120 minutes.
It will also improve the punctuality of trains to Shornur, Thiruvananthapuram, and Pollachi, he stated in his post.
These projects will enhance the railway infrastructure in Kerala and reduce the travel time for rail passengers, Gopi added.