Green signal for Thiruvananthapuram to Mangalore high speed rail project

Green signal for Thiruvananthapuram to Mangalore high speed rail project

Mangalore Today News Network

Kasargod, 15, Feb 2012: An all-party meeting held in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday decided to go ahead with the proposed high-speed rail corridor project linking Thiruvananthapuram and Mangalore. The meet also gave in-principle approval for the project which is estimated to cost Rs 1,18,050 crore.

An initial feasibility study conducted by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) showed that the project was viable both in financial and technical terms.

 “The project envisages to have rail link on elevated platform to a distance of 560 km. About 552 hectares of land was required for the project,’’ he said. As per the plan, the project will start in next April and be fully commissioned by March 2020. The meeting also decided to conduct another meeting to discuss the rehabilitation packages for the persons who would be displaced and other issues connected with the project. 

The 220 km stretch between Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi is expected to be covered by the train in 42 minutes. The distance between Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode will be covered in 72 minutes. It will take 96 minutes to reach Kannur, 115 minutes to Kasardgod and 124 minutes to reach Mangalore. 

Each train running along the route will have eight coaches (six motorised coaches and two trailers attached to the motorised coaches at both ends). They could carry 817 passengers per trip.