Environmental, social costs of Vizhinjam port railway tunnel to be higher than anticipated

The State government's plan to construct a ₹1,500 crore railway tunnel to the Vizhinjam International Seaport through a densely populated region has raised concerns over its environmental and social impacts. Despite the availability of an alternative land alignment, the project has been met with skepticism from experts and members of the public.

The proposed 10.7-km tunnel between Balaramapuram and Vizhinjam is set to become the State's second major tunnel project and the country's third-longest railway tunnel. However, experts question its feasibility due to the region's fragile geology, soil types, and high population density. Dr. V. Nandakumar, a former head of the Natural Hazards Research Group, highlighted the unsuitability of the proposed alignment for a tunnel carrying heavy container trains, given the underlying geologically weak terrain and inconsistent soil composition.

Additionally, the tunnel's construction could disrupt groundwater flow and cause land subsidence, posing risks to existing structures and wells in the region. The alignment also passes through densely populated areas, where a significant portion of the population relies on open wells for drinking water. This could lead to water scarcity and damage to buildings, potentially causing structural collapse.

Experts argue that a surface-level alignment through lower-lying areas, like the fringes of the Pallichal-Mudavoorpara paddy fields, would be a more viable and cost-effective option. This alternative route would minimize risks to groundwater resources, environmental stability, and local livelihoods. The government's decision to pursue the tunnel project could ultimately destabilize the region and disrupt the livelihoods of millions of people along the Balaramapuram-Vizhinjam corridor.