Kochi: The Indian Ministry of Railways has approved key railway infrastructure projects in Kerala, aimed at easing congestion and improving punctuality across major routes.

A sum of ₹324.16 crore has been sanctioned for doubling the coastal railway line, covering a distance of 12.66 kilometres.

In addition, ₹163.57 crore has been allocated for the construction of the 1.80-kilometre Palakkad Town–Parali bypass line.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw cleared the related files on Monday.

A sum of ₹324.16 crore has been sanctioned for construction activities in the Alappuzha–Ambalapuzha stretch. The estimated cost of the Alappuzha–Ambalapuzha track doubling project is ₹313 crore. Approval for doubling the Thuravoor–Mararikulam stretch, estimated at ₹430 crore, is likely to follow soon.

In total, 45 kilometres of track are to be doubled. It may be noted that the total length of the line from Ernakulam to Alappuzha is 69 kilometres.

Meanwhile, the Palakkad–Parali bypass is expected to ease delays and improve scheduling for trains operating on routes linking Shornur, Thiruvananthapuram and Pollachi, contributing to better timekeeping and smoother rail operations across the region.