The KRDCL had floated bids for selecting the agency for undertaking LiDAR, an aerial remote sensing survey method. The Hindu that the KRDCL had commenced steps to revise the estimate and undertake a LiDAR survey to get clarity on the alignment along the 40-km Ramapuram-Erumeli corridor.
SABARI RAIL ROUTE UPDATE
Responding to the KRDCL’s interest, Railways have asked it to update the estimate as the present one was taken in 2015. The income would be shared 50:50 between the State and Railways after deducting the expense. The State had informed the Centre that Railways would be responsible for construction and maintenance of the 116-km line while en route station development would be through public-private partnership. The Cabinet had already decided to make available 50% of the estimate from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) to Railways. The move comes within three months of Kerala agreeing to the demand of Railways to bear 50% of the estimated ₹2,815.62 crore of the 116-km Angamaly-Azhutha Sabari Rail. If the work is carried out at a faster pace, three years would be enough.Kerala Rail Development Corporation Ltd (KRDCL), the special purpose vehicle for executing viable rail projects on cost-sharing basis with Railways, has evinced interest in executing the Angamali-Sabarimala rail project. The work on this extension could be completed in five years. Punalur is on the Kollam-Sengottai rail line, linking Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The importance of this southern spur is not lost on the government. If the Sabari rail line is extended up to Punalur, further south, it will ensure connectivity with Tamil Nadu as well. The line begins at Angamaly and ends at Erumeli, close to Sabarimala. The new stations will be at Thodupuzha, Karimkunnam, Ramapuram, Bharananganam, Chemmalamattom, Kanjirapally and Erumeli.Īngamaly and Kalady, both in Ernakulam districts, already have railway stations. The proposed stations along the Sabari rail line will come up in Idukki and Kottayam districts.
The decision is also set to cheer landowners especially along the 73 km between Kalady and Ramapuram, near Pala, as so far they couldn't buy or sell land owing to the uncertainty around the project. If the project becomes a reality, it would mark the arrival of railways in Idukki district. The state government's decision to bear 50 per cent of the cost of Angamaly-Erumeli Sabari rail project is expected to give a fillip to the development of railways in central Kerala. With the project getting a new lease of life now, land acquisition is set to pick up tempo even with the existing staff. Though there were recommendations to shut it down, it didn't materialise. A special tehsildar and four other employees function from the office. The mainland acquisition office of the project is located at Pala.
Some of the staff was shifted for land acquisition for the ongoing double lining of the railway line via Kottayam. The staff manning these offices was sent on deputation to other departments. But as the project was still in limbo, the land acquisition offices became defunct. Subsequently, the line alignment was redrawn to ensure minimum destruction of houses and permission in this regard was obtained. Though the survey was completed and line alignment was confirmed, there was strong opposition from certain quarters over land acquisition plans. The state government's share can be given in instalments as per the progress of work.
With the project getting delayed indefinitely, the estimated cost in 2017 has now escalated to Rs 2,825 crore, of which 1407.5 crore has to be given by the Kerala government. The initial estimate for the project was Rs 550 crore.
SABARI RAIL ROUTE TRIAL
Locomotive trial run held from Madurai to Theni However, the project got delayed due to various reasons. The project was envisaged for providing facilities to the Ayyappa devotees coming from various parts of the country and also for the development of Kerala's south-east region.
The initial work had begun on the 10-km Kalady-Perumbavoor stretch too. So far only a 7-km rail line has been constructed between Angamaly and Kalady as part of the project. The Sabari Rail or Sabarimala Railway project envisages the construction of a railway line from Angamaly to Erumeli. The income generated through the project, minus expenditure, should be shared on a 50:50 ratio between the Railways and state.Įarlier the Kerala government had decided to bear 25 per cent of the cost involved in land acquisition for national highway development, in a similar fashion. Moreover, the development of the 20 railway stations along the proposed line should be carried out with a special company with public-private participation. The state government has decided to bear the cost with certain conditions. Kerala wants the Ministry of Railways to implement, operate and maintain the rail line.
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