Request to extend Angamaly-Erumeli Sabari patha to Vizhinjam port: Parallel route to Thiruvananthapuram and connectivity to Tamilnadu

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government will request the Centre to extend the proposed Angamaly-Erumeli Sabari patha for the development of Central Kerala to Vizhinjam port. There is a demand that Sabari Patha should be included in the Rail Sagar project to provide rail connectivity to the ports. K-Rail Corporation has been entrusted with the follow-up. Angamaly- Muvattupuzha-Erumeli- Punalur- Nedumangad- Vizhinjam greenfield rail freight corridor can be constructed if Sabari patha is extended to Vizhinjam. A parallel railway route to Thiruvananthapuram will also happen with this. This is in consideration of the demand of the Sabari Railway Action Council.

Angamaly-Erumeli route is to be extended to Vizhinjam port via Ranni, Pathanamthitta, Konni, Pathanapuram, Punalur, Anchal, Kilimanoor, Venjaramoodu, Nedumangad, Kattakkada and Balaramapuram. A broad gauge line is being constructed from Balaramapuram station to Vizhinjam port. Connectivity to other cities is through the existing railway line. A parallel lane is requested to avoid congestion and rush on this route.

25 new stations

• If Sabaripatha becomes a reality, there will be 25 new railway stations.
• Transport facility will increase in Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts.
• A solution to the severe traffic jam on Angamaly- Thiruvananthapuram MC Road
• Beneficial for furniture, rice, plywood, rubber, perfumery and pineapple industries
• Connectivity to Tamil Nadu if the route is connected with the Kollam-Sengottai route at Punalur.

Rail Sagar

The railway project to connect the ports was announced in the last Union Budget. The plan is to build 2100 km of track on the Rail-Sagar Corridor. If the Sabari route is made part of this, there is a possibility that the financial liability of the state will be reduced. The government has not taken a decision on the demand of the railways that the state should pay 1900.47 crore half of the current cost of 3800.93 crore.