PM Modi to make Sabari reality, announcement in cards

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is believed to announce today the much-awaited Sabari rail track project in Kerala. The project was announced in 1997 times and was stymied for 25 years with successive governments failing to turn it into a reality.

The project came to life during the 1997-98 railway budget. For all these years, the project was restricted to just 111 km of track and a 7 km bridge across Periyar. After spending a hefty Rs 264 crores, the railway froze the project in 2019. Giving much ado, PM Modi resurged the project in 2022 and has involved the topic in his last month's speech instilling high hopes about the long-stalled track turning reality ergo helping devotees thronging the holy shrine of Sabarimala. The central government has now allotted an additional Rs 100 crore for the project.

The Kalady-Erumeli 104 km long rail track is pending. Apart from the Angamaly-Erumeli Railtrack, the Chenganoor-Pamba track study is currently in progress.

Sabari track project is estimated at a total of Rs 3515 crores. From this, 50% of the amount will be taken from the state government coffers. For the project to turn into reality, 274-hectare land should be taken. The compensation amount also involves around Rs 1000 crore. The project also involves 13 stations and a tunnel construction that consists of a total of 13km. The government has asked for the project to be given to K-Rail.

The project will see rail tracks happening in the hilly terrains of Kerala including Pathanamthitta. The track will be constructed suitable for Vande Bharat trains to travel. In Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts, Nedummangad, Anchal, and Palod will see the required facelift for the Sabari rail project.