No more trespassing: Railways begin construction of 28-km safety wall in Palakkad

Ottappalam/Palakkad: The Palakkad Railway Division has initiated construction of boundary walls along several railway tracks to enhance safety and prevent trespassing. The project covers around 28 kilometres from Ottappalam to Kuttippuram, including areas near Palakkad Town station.

The walls are being erected in locations with a high risk of accidents, densely populated areas, and residential neighbourhoods. While the primary aim is to prevent trespassing, the construction will also improve safety for high-speed train operations.

Within the Palakkad Town limits, a 3.5-kilometre section of the wall is being constructed with an allocated budget of ₹4.16 crore, expected to be completed in eight months. Across other stretches from Ottappalam to Kuttippuram, a 24.33-kilometre wall is planned, with a ₹27.37 crore budget and a targeted completion timeline of 18 months. Work is expected to move from planning to construction by the end of October.

Earlier, the railway had sealed 294 unauthorised crossing points along the tracks. The new wall construction focuses on the selected high-risk areas to further enhance safety.