Railways to expedite 72 overbridge projects across Kerala

The Railways has launched a Road Safety Project (RSP) aimed at accelerating the construction of overbridges at level crossings. This initiative will encompass the construction of 115 road over bridges (ROBs) and underpasses (road under bridges) under Southern Railway. Of these, 73 projects are situated in Kerala, falling under the Thiruvananthapuram Division (44) and the Palakkad Division (29). This means that 72 overbridges and one underbridge, located in Kannur's Anayidukku, will now come under the RSP.

Currently, the majority of Southern Railway's construction projects are managed under the Chennai and Ernakulam sections. However, these responsibilities have now been transferred to the RSP, with oversight from the Chief Administrative Officer.

Status of work

Projects, including those at Uduma and Kotikulam in Kasaragod, which were sanctioned ten years ago (2013-14) in the Palakkad Division, have yet to commence. The objective is to expedite these projects.

Cost of construction

At present, the railway and the state government are sharing the construction costs equally. Under this arrangement, construction above the track is conducted by the Railways.

Tenders for eight projects floated

The Kerala Rail Development Corporation has been tasked with constructing road-rail bridges and access roads to eliminate 27 level crossings in the state. However, out of these 27, construction is currently progressing on only one (Nilambur Yard).

Kerala Rail Development Corporation Managing Director V Ajith Kumar stated that the corporation has issued tenders for eight projects. He also revealed that the tenders were issued after the Railways provided full funding for the projects, as the Kerala government did not contribute its share.

Ongoing discussions are taking place regarding the potential for all projects to be fully funded by the Railways.