Kochi: The Indian Railways is moving forward with plans to lay a third railway line between Ernakulam and Kayamkulam via Kottayam, a development which is expected to boost rail connectivity and reduce travel time on the busy Thiruvananthapuram–Ernakulam route.

The alignment for the third line is nearing completion, and preparations are underway to draft a Detailed Project Report (DPR) within the current year. A traffic survey on this route is also progressing on schedule, as part of the groundwork for the project.

The proposed line, running parallel to the existing 114 km Kottayam route, follows the successful commissioning of the second line in 2022, which was completed after years of delay. The addition of a third track is expected to further increase train frequency and travel speed.

However, one of the major challenges ahead is land acquisition, which is expected to consume a portion of the project’s overall cost.