Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated India’s first solar-powered miniature train at the picturesque Veli Tourist Village near Thiruvananthapuram.
The innovative eco-project, valued at ₹10 crore, is designed to enhance sustainable tourism and provide visitors—especially children—with an enchanting experience of travel powered entirely by renewable energy.
The miniature train features a 2.5 km track, three bogies accommodating up to 45 passengers, and all the hallmarks of a full-fledged railway system, including a station, ticket office, and tunnel. The engine, modeled after a vintage steam locomotive, even emits artificial steam to evoke classic railway nostalgia.
“The eco-friendly miniature railway allows visitors to enjoy the natural charm of Veli while promoting clean energy,” said Chief Minister Vijayan. He added that surplus solar power generated will be fed into the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) grid, contributing to the state’s renewable energy goals.
Alongside the train, the Chief Minister also inaugurated a new Urban Park and swimming pool, developed at a combined cost of ₹7.5 crore, as part of a larger ₹60 crore initiative to elevate Veli’s facilities to international standards.
Additional attractions—such as a Tourist Facilitation Centre, Convention Centre, Art Café, Art Gallery, and Open-Air Theatre—are set to open soon. “With over ₹120 crore allocated to Kerala’s tourism sector, our aim is to transform Veli into one of the state’s premier destinations,” said Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran.
These world-class amenities are poised to make Veli Tourist Village a symbol of green innovation and family-friendly recreation, seamlessly blending Kerala’s natural beauty with sustainable progress.