VIZHINJAM RAIL LINK

VIZHINJAM RAIL LINK

The government has initiated measures to acquire 48 hectares of land for laying a rail link from Vizhinjam to Neyyattinkara as supporting infrastructure for the international container transhipment terminal to be built at Vizhinjam. Minister for Ports K. Babu convened an all-party meeting on Tuesday,20^th December,2011, to discuss the steps being taken by the government to get the rail link ready within two-and-a-half years. The meeting decided to call the panchayat and municipal councillors, who represent the wards along which the proposed rail link would pass through, for a discussion on December 26. Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, a Union public sector undertaking, would be building the rail link.

An official press release said the details of the rehabilitation package announced by the government for the people likely to be affected by land acquisition would be made available to the local bodies concerned and also the political leaders in the area. The alignment of the railway link had been drawn in such a way as to avoid places of worship as far as possible.In certain unavoidable cases, the government would find solutions acceptable to the believers through discussions.The press release said concern had been raised at the meeting whether the project would in affect the fishing population of Vizhinjam. The government would study this in detail and try to find a solution.The area required for the rail link includes 19.86 hectares of marshy land, 19.24 hectares dry land and 3.90 hectares of government land. It would entail the acquisition of 114 buildings along the route.48 hectares to be acquired for link to Neyyattinkara.Rail link likely to be completed in two-and a- half years.

                                                  Prof. John Kurakar