Sabari Rail route essential to utilize full potential of Vizhinjam; Government tightens pressure on Centre

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has stepped up pressure for the Angamaly-Erumeli Sabari railway line, which will take full advantage of the potential of Vizhinjam Port and open a trade and commercial corridor up to central Kerala. The demand is that the railway line up to Erumeli should be extended to Vizhinjam. The government has also asked the Union Finance Ministry to include the project in the scheme where interest-free loans are provided for infrastructure development.

Logistics hubs and economic, commercial, agro-commercial and trade zones can be established on both sides of the route. The movement of containers from the port to the north will be facilitated. The project will help in the growth of furniture, rice, plywood, rubber, spice and pineapple industries. The blue economy centred on the port will extend to the central part of Kerala. The plantation corporation and Harrison estates along the road which have been leased, can be taken back and industrial parks can be set up. The government has announced that 10,000 acres of private land will be acquired for port and allied industries.

Perumbavoor is the hub of timber trade. There are many rice mills in Kalady and Perumbavoor. The pineapple city of Vazhakulam, spices park in Thodupuzha, Munnar, Bhoothathankettu, Ilaveezhapoonchira, Vagamon, Kuttikkanam and Thekkady will benefit.

Proposed Sabarimala airport only 8 km away from Erumeli.

Roads will not support the movement of cargo from Vizhinjam port

• When the container movement from the port is in full swing, the roads cannot afford to support it. The existing railway lines, which are used many times more than the capacity, are not sufficient for the movement of goods. The Sabari route is essential for the movement of goods to the north.
• The movement of cargo from the port will cause traffic jams on MC Road. The parallel Thiruvananthapuram-Angamaly greenfield line cannot afford cargo movement. If the Sabari route comes up, a line can be constructed exclusively for the movement of goods.
• The Centre has the Railsagar project to build a railway line to the ports. The plan is to construct a 2100-km track. The project is being implemented as a port contact-facilitation corridor. There is no cost to the state.

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George Kurian, who was the OSD of O Rajagopal, who was the railway minister when the Sabari line was sanctioned, is now union minister. MPs Adoor Prakash and MK Raghavan are members of the Railway Standing Committee of Parliament.

Container capacity when port is completed: 50 lakh

Expected investment through port: Rs 10,000 crore

"The centre has been informed of the benefits of the Sabari route. The pressure on the railways for the Angamaly-Erumeli line will continue."

-V Abdurahiman

Minister