Kollam railway station redevelopment progressing rapidly - The HinduUpdated - July 22, 2026 07:03 pm IST - KOLLAMUnion Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw has informed N.K. Premachandran, MP, that the ₹361-crore Kollam railway station redevelopment project is progressing at a fast pace. Key infrastructure works, including the service building, multi-level car parking facility, and the parcel building, have already been completed.The ongoing works at the station include the construction of a 12-meter-wide foot overbridge, an air concourse, northern and southern terminal buildings, and the upgrading of existing platforms. Central to the project is the air concourse, a vital structural element designed to drastically improve passenger mobility. Functioning as a unified overhead transit corridor, it will link the South and North terminal buildings located 120 meters apart. Once operational, the concourse will allow passengers to move effortlessly between terminals and platforms, ensuring a smooth, hassle-free travel experience.The Minister further stated that 11 railway overbridges (ROBs), costing an estimated ₹390 crore, are currently at various stages of planning and construction across the Kollam Lok Sabha constituency. Among these projects, approval has been granted for the Kundara-Pallimukku ROB, to be constructed at a cost of ₹37.24 crore, with the General Arrangement Drawing (GAD) already approved by the Railways and land acquisition under way. Meanwhile, the widening of ROB No. 2134 on the Edamon-Punalur railway line is being undertaken by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), with its GAD preparation currently in progress.Highlighting the key dependencies for project execution, the Minister noted that State government approvals for closing level crossings, finalization of approach road alignments and GADs, land acquisition, clearance of encroachments, utility shifting, statutory clearances, local law and order conditions, and favorable weather significantly impact timelines.Additionally, the Union Minister pointed out the massive surge in central allocations for Kerala’s railway infrastructure, noting that funding has risen sharply from ₹372 crore annually during the 2009–2014 period to ₹3,795 crore for the 2026–27 fiscal year.Published - July 22, 2026 07:00 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }