The Indian Railways has approved the doubling of the 10.65 kilometer Mararikulam – Alappuzha section of Southern Railway at a cost of over two hundred twenty crore rupees. The Railways Ministry said that the Mararikulam – Alappuzha section is presently the only remaining single-line stretch on the Ernakulam – Turavur – Alappuzha – Ambalapuzha – Kayankulam corridor, where other doubling works have already been commissioned or are under implementation.

The Ministry added that upon completion, the project is expected to facilitate the operation of 9 additional passenger trains in each direction per day and support freight traffic of 2.88 million tonnes per annum. It noted that the doubling work is also projected to generate additional net earnings of approximately 3.08 crore rupees annually through enhanced passenger and freight movement.