Nedumbassery: The proposed Cochin Airport Railway station is a new site that brings rail travel closer to the airport. In 2010, a stretch of land near the Akaparambu railway gate on the Kariyode – Matoor road was considered for the project. However, the proposed site has now been shifted around 500 metres towards the Aluva side. Although the project was approved in 2010 and the foundation stone was laid, the railway gave it up later.

Meanwhile, the newly proposed site is the railways’ own land. Besides, the adjacent land owned by CIAL is also available for future expansion. The CIAL-owned land is on the east and west sides of the proposed site. Moreover, the passengers arriving on trains need not depend on taxis as the railways would become a budget-friendly means of transport for domestic and international tourists. The railway station might also create more employment and business opportunities.

The Cochin International Airport would become one of the few airports in the world where air, rail, road and water transport networks merge when the Kochi waterways to the airport are opened. Besides, the Metro Rail would soon be extended to the airport. Passengers can directly access Changi Airport in Singapore and London Heathrow by train. When Kochi gets elevated to this level, the airport will be able to attract more international airline companies and services.

Meanwhile, the recently inaugurated cargo village at the airport is just a stone’s throw away from the proposed railway station. It would benefit the exporters as the cargo from various parts of Kerala and other states could be transported to the airport via trains at affordable rates. More cargo flights are likely to land and take off from Kochi when the cargo exports increase.

CIAL agrees to hand land
CIAL noted that it would consider handing over its land to the Railways for the proposed Kochi Airport Railway station. Currently, the station has been designed to have two platforms, and land owned by the Railway is sufficient for that. Transportation expenses would be considerably reduced when the cargo that arrives in lorries at the airport is switched to trains. Besides, the new railway station will redirect the cargo from the northern districts that go the neighbouring states, back to Kochi. Electric or hydrogen-powered buses would be scheduled to go from the railway station to the airport. CIAL is also considering launching buggy services or building a skywalk. 

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