This July, the awaited subterranean rail connection project between Vizhinjam International Seaport and Balaramapuram railway station is expected to proceed. For comprehensive design and construction, the Konkan Rail Corporation Ltd. (KRCL) is getting ready to issue a tender.

Once the draft document has been approved by Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd (VISL), the state-owned port authority in charge of the project, a tender is anticipated to be issued, according to KRCL sources.

The engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) approach will be used to carry out the project. There should be a three-month window to choose the contractor after the tender opens. After that, the successful bidder will have three more months to finish the final design. According to an official with knowledge of the proposal, construction is expected to start in January 2026.

Efforts are underway to acquire land before this. By the end of July, VISL plans to occupy the land it has purchased in Balaramapuram. Since the authorities must hold a critical meeting with local fisherman and church members who have voiced concerns regarding the tunnel’s development, land acquisition on the Vizhinjam side is still delayed.