Thiruvananthapuram: The tender process for the railway line being built as part of the Vizhinjam International Port Project will begin in the first week of October, officials said.

The technical committee preparing the tender is expected to give approval next week, after which the document will be finalised and published. The committee will evaluate and confirm the terms and conditions before release.

Technical aspects of the bid will be reviewed over the next three months, and a contractor will be selected by January, when construction is expected to begin. The tender will cover a full engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract, with a 36-month completion period. The underground line is targeted for completion by December 2028.

Konkan Railway is responsible for constructing the line for Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd (VISL). The project is expected to cost ₹1,482 crore. Of the 10.7-km stretch, 9.02 km will be underground. The line will connect the port to Balaramapuram and link with the Thiruvananthapuram–Kanyakumari route, allowing container transport by rail.

A yard capable of accommodating two freight trains will be built at Balaramapuram, along with the development of the station into a signalling hub. VISL has already transferred ₹243 crore to the Railways for the yard project, which will be completed alongside the tunnel.

The construction will use the New Austrian Tunnelling Method, chosen for its faster timelines and lower environmental impact. The railway will run parallel to the Vizhinjam–Balaramapuram road, at a depth of 15 to 30 metres.

Land acquisition of 6.04 hectares is required in Balaramapuram, Athiyannoor, Pallichal and Vizhinjam villages, including 2.04 acres in Vizhinjam. VISL signed an MoU with Konkan Railway in 2018 for a feasibility study and construction. The initial cost estimate then was ₹1,032 crore.