Fourteen years after its commissioning, the Vallarpadam rail link—built as a key component of the International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) in Kochi—remains largely underutilised. Spanning 4.62 km as one of India’s longest rail bridges, the ₹370-crore project was intended to facilitate faster and more efficient container movement between Vallarpadam and the mainland.
The rail corridor, including an 8.86 km-long track over Vembanad Lake connecting ICTT to Edappally, was designed to transport containers from the inland container depots (ICDs) to the terminal. However, the Container Corporation of India (Concor) withdrew train operations just before the COVID-19 pandemic, citing low patronage from the trade. Concor holds a 15% stake in India Gateway Terminal Pvt Ltd, the ICTT operator.
Preference for Road Transport
Experts say trucking continues to dominate the logistics ecosystem in Kerala due to its flexibility, speed, and last-mile delivery capability. Rail movement, while cost-effective over long distances, often requires additional trucking for short hauls, reducing its appeal. Concor’s higher freight rates compared to road transport also discouraged shippers, despite attempts to rationalise fares.
R Rajesh Kumar, President of the Customs House & Shipping Agents Association, Coimbatore, noted that moving ICDs and associated container handling costs prompted exporters to prefer trailers and file shipping bills through Kochi instead.
DP World, the sole beneficiary of the rail line, highlighted that rail transport is generally preferred for distances above 250 km, while road transport better serves short- to medium-distance shipments. The terminal is exploring options to expand rail connectivity beyond regional markets to strengthen trade flows.
Dual-Use Proposal for Metro and Freight
Former Cochin Port Chairman N Ramachandran, instrumental in commissioning the Vallarpadam terminal, expressed concern over the underutilisation of the massive facility. In his new book, Notes from Willingdon Island, he suggested repurposing the rail line for dual use—by freight trains and the Kochi Metro. This would connect Vallarpadam, Vypin, and western Kochi suburbs to the metro network, enhancing urban mobility, reducing road congestion, and boosting tourism and commercial prospects along the Western Coast.
Ramachandran also recommended incentivising medium- and long-distance rail transport, offering competitive freight rates, tax breaks for multimodal logistics, and promoting rail usage through awareness campaigns backed by the Centre and port authorities.
Despite its strategic design and financial investment, the Vallarpadam rail link’s potential remains largely untapped, highlighting the challenges of integrating rail into a road-dominated logistics network in Kerala.
