Ezhimala Bridge Creates Railway History; 2 km of Track Constructed in 6.5 Hours and Opened for Train Traffic

Payyanur: The Ezhimala railway bridge has been opened for train services by the railway, marking a significant achievement with the completion of 2 kilometers of track construction in a record 6.5 hours. The work of laying and securing the tracks was executed with remarkable speed and precision.

Under the leadership of Additional Divisional Railway Manager Jayakrishnan, a dedicated team of officials, including the Chief Engineer, alongside skilled laborers, completed the track laying at an astonishing pace. The team commenced operations at 9 PM, and by 4:30 AM the following morning, they had successfully constructed a 2-kilometer railway line on both sides, seamlessly connecting it to the new bridge.

At 4:56 AM, the first goods train made its inaugural journey across the newly constructed bridge. This was followed by the passage of the Porbandar Express, carrying passengers, at 5:35 AM, officially commencing services for trains towards Kannur via the new bridge, albeit at a reduced speed. During the critical construction activities, train traffic was efficiently managed by diverting services like the West Coast Express and Mangala Express through the existing old track, referred to as the first track.

The decision to construct this new bridge was prompted by the structural deterioration of the Chankurichal bridge, originally built in 1906. While the construction of the new bridge was completed two years ago, its operationalization faced delays due to challenges in acquiring land for building the essential approach railway line. The connecting track from the Kannur side of the railway line to the new bridge was successfully completed on Friday night, well within the allocated 7-hour timeframe.

Currently, the second track has been successfully linked to the new bridge. In the forthcoming phase, scheduled for the night of September 24, the first track leading to the old bridge will also be connected to the new structure. Railway authorities have confirmed that once this final connection is made, the historic Chankurichal bridge, built in 1906, will be entirely bypassed and, if deemed necessary, will be subsequently demolished.