Railways, Cochin Port launch inquiries into ‘dismantling’ of defunct rail tracks at Willingdon Island

Railway authorities and the Cochin Port Authority (CPA) have launched separate inquiries into the alleged dismantling of a portion of a defunct rail track passing through a property of the port at Willingdon Island in Kochi, Kerala, official sources said on Wednesday (June 24, 2026).

The inquiries started after the track between Q9 Berth of the port and the office of Tata Global Beverages were found dismantled, triggering suspicions about loss of valuable steel rails. The nearly 500-metre stretch is part of the rail siding connected to the main railway line and used for freight movement earlier.

The stretch has been lying overgrown and almost abandoned, with the line remaining dysfunctional for years since the commissioning of the International Container Transshipment Terminal at Vallarpadam.

“An internal inquiry has been initiated by the port,” officials with the port said. They, however, refused to divulge details of the property.

Survey to assess loss

Sources with the Railways, meanwhile, said they have started a survey to assess if the dismantling of the track has caused any loss. “The dismantled parts of the track, including the rails and concrete railway sleepers, have been found heaped in an area behind a scrapyard of the port. The railway engineering wing will take stock of the dismantled parts and measure the lines as part of assessing if there is any loss,” an officer with the Railway said.

The officer said it was yet to be confirmed if the tracks were pulled apart as part of any activity within the port’s property or with criminal intentions.

“Further steps will be taken based on the findings of the assessment and the inquiry being conducted by the CPA,” he said.

The Harbour police said they were yet to receive any complaint regarding the matter.