Kerala's Sabari Rail Project Gains Momentum After 28-Year Delay
After nearly three decades of stagnation, the Sabari Rail project in Kerala has taken a significant step forward with the state government initiating land acquisition proceedings. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha that this move marks a crucial development for the long-pending 111-km Angamaly-Sabarimala railway line, originally sanctioned in 1997-98.
Project Overview and Historical Delays
The Angamaly-Sabarimala project, also known as Sabari Rail, is designed to cater primarily to pilgrims visiting the famous Sabarimala temple, with Erumeli station serving as the gateway. However, progress has been severely hindered over the years due to multiple challenges. According to Vaishnaw, work on segments like Angamaly-Kalady and Kalady-Perumbavoor was initiated but could not proceed further. Key obstacles included protests by local communities against land acquisition and alignment issues, court cases filed against the project, and inadequate support from the Kerala government.
Of the 416 hectares of land required, only 24 hectares had been acquired in the past 28 years, highlighting the scale of the delays. The project cost has been revised to Rs 3,801 crore, with cost-sharing between the state and Railways emerging as a major point of contention.
Recent Developments and Funding Breakthrough
In a recent turn of events, the Kerala government communicated conditional consent to the Railways in August 2024. Following this, Railways requested unconditional consent for cost-sharing. Vaishnaw subsequently urged Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to commence land acquisition with the state's 50% share of the project cost.
On February 4, the state cabinet approved Rs 1,905 crore for the project. Announcing the decision, Vijayan stated on X that the Government of Kerala is moving decisively to realize the Sabari Rail project, utilizing the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) to ensure no further delays, despite the Union Government's insistence on the state bearing half the cost.
Route Details and Future Prospects
The railway line will feature 14 stops, including:
- Angamaly
- Kalady
- Perumbavoor
- Odakkali
- Kothamangalam
- Muvattupuzha
- Vazhakulam
- Todupuzha
- Karimkunnam
- Ramapuram
- Bharananganam
- Chemmalamattom
- Kanjirappally
- Erumeli
Plans are also in place to potentially extend the corridor via Punalur and Nedumangad to link directly with Vizhinjam International Port, which could provide a significant boost to Kerala's economy by creating a lifeline for hill regions. However, a survey for an extension from Erumeli to Thiruvananthapuram via Pathanamthitta and Punalur was conducted but could not proceed due to low traffic projections.
Additional Railway Projects in Kerala
Vaishnaw also highlighted delays in other railway projects in the state, including three doubling projects: Ernakulam-Kumbalam, Kumbalam-Turavur, and Shoranur-Vallathol, all stalled due to land acquisition issues. Additionally, to enhance connectivity to Vizhinjam International Seaport, a new line from Balaramapuram to Vizhinjam Port is being developed under the Non-Government Railway model by the Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited, a special purpose vehicle of the Kerala government.
This renewed momentum for the Sabari Rail project represents a hopeful step towards improving infrastructure and pilgrimage access in Kerala, after years of bureaucratic and logistical hurdles.
