Kerala Rail Development Corporation

Kerala Rail Development Corporation d/b/a Kerala-Rail (stylized as Kerala-rail) is a public sector joint venture company under the ownership of the Government of Kerala for the railway infrastructure development in Kerala.[1] The company was incorporated on 3 January 2017.[2]

Kerala Rail Development Corporation
Company typePublic sector
IndustryRail transport
FoundedJanuary 3, 2017; 7 years ago (2017-01-03)
Headquarters,
India
Area served
Kerala
Key people
  • VP Joy IAS (Chief Secretary, GoK & Chairman)
  • V. Ajith Kumar, IRSSE (Managing Director)
ServicesPassenger railways
OwnerGovernment of India (49%)
Government of Kerala (51%)
Websitekeralarail.com

The K-Rail is focused on the planning and implementation of rail line projects including surveys and preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPR). Kerala rail is also involved in procuring requisite approvals and does processing for the sanctioning of identified Projects.

Proposed projects

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Thiruvananthapuram–Kasargode Semi High Speed Rail Corridor

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Kasargode
 
Kannur
 
Kozhikode
 
Tirur
 
Thrissur
 
Cochin International Airport
 
Kochi
 
Kottayam
 
Chengannur
 
Kollam
 
Thiruvananthapuram

The Thiruvananthapuram–Kasargode Semi High Speed Rail Corridor named Silver Line is a proposed high-speed rail corridor in India that would connect the capital city of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram with Kasaragod in Kerala.

Project Specifications
Project title SilverLine (Semi High Speed Rail Corridor from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod)
Total distance 529.45 km (328.98 mi)
Travel time 4 hours
Maximum train speed 200 km/h (120 mph)
Number of stations 11
Proposed project cost 66,079 crore (US$7.9 billion)
Tracks 2 (up & down)
Rolling stock 9 coaches initially
Expected daily ridership 79,934 passengers per day in 2025-26

Rolling stock:

EMU type train set of 9 cars which is extendable to 12-15 cars in the future

Passenger capacity: 625 passengers (9 car set)

Seating:  2+2 seating (Business class), 3+2 seating (Standard class)

Signalling & communication:

ETCS Level 2 with LTE

Power supply & traction:

From KSEBL through Solar & other Renewable Energy

Proposed fare: Rs. 2.75 per km in Standard Class.

Estimated project completion cost: Rs 63940.67 Crores

Structure of route length:  

Total Length   529.45 km (328.98 mi)
Structure
  1. Viaduct
88.41 km (54.94 mi)
  1. Tunnel
11.52 km (7.16 mi)
  1. Cutting
101.73 km (63.21 mi)
  1. Bank
292.72 km (181.89 mi)
  1. Cut & cover
24.78 km (15.40 mi)
  1. Bridges
12.99 km (8.07 mi)

Thalassery – Mysore New Broad-Gauge Line

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The proposed project is a broad gauge railway line interconnection between Thalassery of central Malabar region of Kerala and Mysore, the cultural capital of Karnataka. The Konkan Railway Corporation has conducted feasibility studies and estimated a budget of 5,000 crore (US$600 million) for the 180.46 km (112.13 mi) out of the total 240 km (150 mi) BG line.[3]

Project Specifications
Project title Thalassery – Mysore New BG Line
Total distance 240 km (150 mi)
Travel time 5 hours
Maximum train speed 200 km/h (120 mph)
Number of stations TBA
Proposed project cost 5,000 crore (US$600 million) for 180.46 Km
Tracks TBA
Rolling stock
Expected daily ridership

Nilambur – Nanjangud Railway Line

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The Nilambur–Nanjangud railway line also called The Golden I T Corridor or Wayanad Railway[4] is a proposed project to establish faster interconnectivity between the two states of Kerala and Karnataka through the construction of a direct short distance broad gauge line between Nilambur in the Malappuram district of Kerala and Nanjangud in Chamaraja Nagar district of Karnataka. The first proposal for such a line dates back to 1881.[5] By the successful establishment of this broad gauge line, the existing distance between Ernakulam - Mysore rail route will be reduced to 361 km (224 mi) from 776 km (482 mi) and Ernakulam - Bangalore will be reduced to 500 km (310 mi) from 637 km (396 mi). Estimated budget for this project is 4,000 crore (US$480 million).[6]

Coaching terminal complex

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Kerala Rail Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL) has submitted a feasibility report to Southern Railway for the redevelopment of the marshalling yard at Ponnuruni to construct an international standard coaching terminal complex.[7] The underutilized land here in Ponnurunni, at the heart of the city, will have the capacity to host trains, apart from having space for repair and maintenance of trains. The new terminal would become a new halt station for trains through Kottayam and will also be a terminal point for new trains that are allotted to the state. The Southern Railway has entrusted the Kerala Rail Development Corporation Ltd for preparing a feasibility report on the terminal in October 2020.[8] The proposed terminal will also ease the long-standing traffic congestion in Kochi and accelerate the development of the railways in the state. The feasibility study says the project is technically feasible and financially viable and recommended for implementation to have higher mobility, meet the traffic growth and economic development of the State. The project can be completed over three years. The feasibility report suggests a station complex with 4 platforms, 1 pit line, 2 parcel lines, 2 stabling lines, wagon examination line in addition to retaining the existing coaching depot. The expected total investment through the project is Rs 1654 crore including the development of the railway infrastructure for Rs 325 crore. The plan is in such a way that the number of passenger platforms can be increased depending on the increasing traffic demand in the future.[9]

Sabari railway line

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Sabarimala Railway is a proposed 111 km (69 mi) railway line from Angamaly to Erumeli, (and possible extension until punalur) near Sabarimala that had been sanctioned in the year 1998 by Indian Railways. According to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Kerala State and the Ministry of Railways on 27 January 2016, commercially viable railway projects will be identified and handed over to the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to be fast-tracked on a 51:49 per cent equity basis. SPV has discussed about the extension to Punalur. Kerala Rail Development corporation shows interest for constructing this new sabarimala railway line[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "About".
  2. ^ "Kerala Rail Development Corporation Limited - K-rail | Company, Contact Details, Directors, Email id." Best Data Provider Company.
  3. ^ "Thalassery – Mysore New Broad-Gauge Line (240Kms)".
  4. ^ "News Archives". The Hindu. 25 February 2011. Archived from the original on 28 February 2011.
  5. ^ "Indian Railway News". discuss.itacumens.com.
  6. ^ "Nanjangud – Nilambur Railway Line (176km)".
  7. ^ "KRDCL submits report on coaching terminal complex at Ponnurunni". @businessline. 31 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Railway terminal at Ponnurunni: Nod for feasibility study". The New Indian Express.
  9. ^ "Coaching terminal plan to take off soon". The New Indian Express.
  10. ^ "Kerala Rail Development Corpn evinces interest in Angamaly-Sabarimala rail project". Construction Week Online India. Retrieved 28 May 2021.