Thiruvananthapuram-Kasargod Coastal Highway: Undersea Tunnel Proposed Between Fort Kochi And Vypeen

India’s first Undersea tunnel Between Fort Kochi And Vypeen.

Overview

The Kerala government has undertaken a significant project to build a coastal highway spanning 623 km from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasargod at a cost of INR 6,500 Crore. The project covers nine coastal districts, extending from Pozhiyoor to Thalapady. While it involves constructing 470 km of new road, 155 km of that distance will be combined with sections of NH-66 and adjacent coastal sections. Completion is anticipated by 2026. 

Construction challenge

Fort Kochi is situated on the southern side of the port’s approach channel, while the 27 km-long Vypeen Island stretches to the north. Vypeen Island is known for its underdeveloped, densely populated, and less prosperous rural landscape. The task of connecting Fort Kochi and Vypeen Island presents a challenge.

Undersea tunnel

Jose Paul, a former acting chairman of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust in Mumbai, suggested a two-kilometer underwater tunnel project to connect Vypeen and Fort Kochi in 2015. He had proposed that the tunnel could be constructed about 35 meters below the seabed, starting about 800 meters from either shore.

Engineering Marvel

A comprehensive report in The Hindu indicates that building an undersea tunnel connecting Fort Kochi and Vypeen Island is indeed feasible. The design of the tunnel focuses on accommodating large trucks and container trailers, despite the shipping channel’s width being limited to 260 meters. To ensure a comfortable gradient, the approach road leading to the tunnel needs about 800 meters on both sides. Consequently, the tunnel’s projected length is approximately 2.6 kilometers.

The proposed tunnel’s entry point would be at Puthuvypeen and exit at Fort Kochi Beach, potentially requiring minimal land acquisition. The tunnel construction experts estimate the total cost to be around INR 1,500 Crore.

Once finished, this undersea tunnel will mark India’s first deep shipping channel tunnel, providing a crucial link for seamless transportation along the proposed coastal highway.

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Disclaimer: The information in this article is gathered using data from Biltrax Construction Data’s proprietary platform. This article uses feature images that may not be representative of the project; they are merely for illustration purposes.