New Delhi: The doubling of the 10.65 km Mararikulam-Alappuzha section of Southern Railway has been approved at a sanctioned cost of Rs 220.51 crore, the Railway Ministry said on Monday.

"The project has been approved under the umbrella work for doubling, tripling, quadrupling, flyover and bypass works aimed at augmenting the capacity of the railway network," a ministry press note stated.

The Mararikulam-Alappuzha section is presently the only remaining single-line stretch on the Ernakulam-Turavur-Alappuzha-Ambalapuzha-Kayankulam corridor, where other doubling works have already been commissioned or are under implementation.

Officials said that once completed, the project is expected to facilitate the operation of nine additional passenger trains in each direction per day and support freight traffic of 2.88 million tonnes per annum (MTPA).

"The doubling work is also projected to generate additional net earnings of approximately Rs 3.08 crore annually through enhanced passenger and freight movement," they added.

Highlighting improvements in the overall operational efficiency, the ministry said that after commissioning of the sanctioned work, detention of both passenger and freight trains will reduce, leading to faster and smoother train operations on this important route.

It will also enhance line capacity, improve punctuality and strengthen connectivity across the region, it added. PTI