Southern Railway has proposed 150 km of trackside safety fencing along the Payangadi-Bekal Fort and Quilandi-Thalassery sections to support higher train speeds and improved operational safety. The authority presented the works as linked to increasing permissible running speeds while reducing unauthorised access to the corridor. The announcement described two separate contracts to deliver the fencing and boundary walls. Officials said the interventions form part of wider infrastructure upgrades in the Palakkad division aimed at improving reliability and service regularity.

The first contract covers the Payangadi-Bekal Fort section and envisages 70 km of safety fencing and seven point four km of boundary wall, with a completion period of 12 months. The work carries an advertised value of Rs 456.3 million (mn) and the tender documents set out technical requirements. The fencing is intended to provide a continuous barrier to deter trespass and accidental intrusions. The tender notices set out evaluation criteria and contractual obligations for bidders.

The second contract covers the Quilandi-Thalassery section and includes 80 km of safety fencing and zero point seven km of boundary wall, again with a completion period of 12 months. The advertised value is Rs 420.1 million (mn) and the tender referred to operations at 130 kmph on that stretch. Contractors are to follow specified standards for barrier strength and durability. The measures are described as complementary to signalling and track upgrades needed for higher speed running.

Fencing will use W-beam steel barriers while boundary walls will comprise pre-stressed precast panels and precast columns for consistent quality and rapid installation. Such physical segregation is expected to reduce the possibility of people, animals or other obstructions entering the track and to lower incidents that can delay services. For passengers the works are presented as strengthening the infrastructure required for safer higher-speed services on the two stretches. Project notices set procurement timelines and quality control measures, and the interventions are intended to complement signalling and track upgrades in the division.