Sabari railway: Kerala wants both Angamaly-Erumeli and Chengannur-Pamba rail routes

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While the Centre and the state are blaming each other over the Sabari railway, Kerala wants both Angamaly-Erumeli rail route, which has started construction, and the Chengannur-Pamba rail route, which the Centre is interested in.

While welcoming the Chengannur-Pamba rail route, which is under study, Minister V Abdurahiman said that the Angamaly-Erumeli rail route, for which land acquisition was started and the sale and purchase of land belonging to hundreds of people were frozen, can be implemented faster. The minister alleged that the central move for an alternative rail route is a political move ahead of the assembly elections.

3800.94 crores is the expenditure estimate for the Angamaly-Erumeli rail route. Out of this, 1900.47 crores should be spent by Kerala. The position of the railway is that the project will not be considered without assurance about that amount. Kerala had agreed to bear half the cost on the assumption that it could take money from KIIFB. The move was frozen as the borrowing from KIIFB would reduce the state's total borrowing limit. The minister said that there is no change in the stance of covering half the cost, but this loan should be exempted from the borrowing limit.

Even if the Centre's 50-year interest-free infrastructure development loan is taken for the Sabari railway, the government has estimated that it will add to the state's public debt.

Last year too, the Centre was requested to construct the railway in two reaches, Angamaly-Ramapuram and Ramapuram-Erumeli. Stones were laid for land acquisition till Ramapuram. Seven kilometers of rail and a bridge have been constructed on the 111 km Angamaly-Erumeli rail route. Railways froze the project in 2019 after spending 264 crores.

Angamaly-Erumeli rail route more beneficial

1. The Angamaly-Erumeli rail route is better for Kerala compared to the Chengannur-Pamba 75 km rail route. The 9000-crore Pampa elevated dual carriageway will not be crowded except during the 45-day Mandala Kalam period.
2. Once the Angamaly-Erumeli railway line comes, the traffic will increase in Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts. Rail facility will come to the hills including Idukki. The railway line can be extended to Vizhinjam port.

About 10 letters have been sent to the Center saying Kerala will bear half the cost of the Angamaly-Erumeli railway. The loan will be repaid correctly. This rail route is more beneficial for Sabarimala pilgrims.

-V Abdurahiman, Minister