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Kerala set to get a 9-km rail tunnel
Why in news?
- A 10.7-km railway line, including a 9.02-km tunnel, has been proposed to connect the upcoming Vizhinjam International Multipurpose Deepwater Seaport to the railway network.
More in the news
About the tunnel:
- Tunnel is mooted by Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd (KRCL) from near the Balaramapuram station on the Kanyakumari-Thiruvananthapuram railway line.
- It will be the second longest railway tunnel in the country after the 11.26-km Pir Panjal rail tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir.
- It will be a single line and sufficient for the movement of 9 to 10 rakes daily through the corridor for the next 20 years.
- The cost of providing the rail connectivity, including land acquisition, has been put at Rs 1,069 crore.
- The plan is to establish the railway link by May 2022.
Reason for favouring tunnel:
- The KRCL has favoured the railway tunnel from Balaramapuram in view of the 35-metre level difference between the port and the highest ground level, undulating terrain, and local population.
Some Facts
- Longest rail tunnels in India:(1) 11.26Km Pir Panjal tunnel, connects Banihal and Hillar Shahabad in L&K.(2) 7.2 Km Sangaldan tunnel in Katra-Banihal section of Jammu-Baramulla Line.
Source
The Hindu.