Kerala’s railway infrastructure has hit a major bottleneck, with fewer than 20 of 137 approved flyover projects currently under construction. In cities like Kannur and Kasaragod, delays in land acquisition and unfinalised plans have become major hurdles. Despite full subsidies from the Railways for some projects, work remains stalled for years. The sluggish pace not only affects connectivity but also worsens congestion, leaving critical roads—including those used by ambulances—gridlocked at railway crossings.
Of the 137 railway flyover projects greenlit across Kerala, only a small fraction have progressed beyond the blueprint stage. This includes 39 projects fully subsidised by Indian Railways, where work has not begun due to the state government’s delay in land acquisition. Even flyovers sanctioned nearly a decade ago have seen little to no development. Senior officials attribute this stagnation to unapproved General Arrangement Drawings (GAD), missing feasibility studies, and incomplete joint site inspections. In Kannur district alone, just one out of 13 approved Road Over Bridges (ROBs) has been completed. The rest remain either at the tender, soil testing, or drawing approval stages. For projects under the 50:50 funding model, land acquisition must be completed upfront by the state, causing further delays. Meanwhile, congestion at unmanned railway crossings continues to affect public movement and emergency services, signalling a deeper infrastructural crisis rooted in planning and execution failures.
The delay ripple effects are visible across northern districts such as Kannur and Kasaragod. In Kasaragod, three sanctioned flyovers remain frozen due to land unavailability. Several projects initially approved between 2015 and 2016 were eventually abandoned by the Railways, only to be revived later as essential infrastructure. Yet, bureaucratic backlogs persist. According to project authorities, construction cannot commence without district-level land acquisition units completing necessary surveys and paperwork. Despite dedicated teams led by local officials, progress remains minimal. Furthermore, 50 flyovers have approved plans but have not entered the construction phase, while 37 await GAD approval altogether. The Kerala Rail Development Corporation (KRDCL), tasked with implementing these projects, finds itself stalled as each phase is linked to land clearances. While some progress has been seen under the SilverLine and third-line railway expansion efforts, the broader flyover initiative remains far from delivering the connectivity relief it once promised.
The ongoing delay in Kerala’s railway flyover projects highlights a critical mismatch between planning and execution. Despite financial backing and infrastructural demand, most projects remain in limbo due to blueprint lapses and land acquisition delays. Cities like Kannur and Kasaragod continue to suffer under the weight of stalled mobility and mounting traffic. Until state-level mechanisms streamline land processes and fast-track approvals, the vision of seamless, rail-free road transport in Kerala will remain on paper. These delays not only hamper daily commutes but also risk derailing broader connectivity and development goals in the region.
Kannur Railway Projects Lag Behind, 117 Rail Flyovers Still Await Land Clearance