Kerala express readiness to take over Sabari railway line construction

Thursday 02 December, 2021 | 12:03 AM READ MALAYALAM VERSION

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With Kerala ready to take over the construction of the Sabari railway line and bear half of the cost, it has been confirmed that the project will become a reality. Kerala promises to build the track in four years.

However, even after the state cabinet informed the Center through an order that it would bear half the cost, the Railways' move in 2020 to freeze the project has not been rectified. Kerala wants the land acquisition to be started by removing the freeze and handing over the construction to the Kerala Railway Development Corporation (KRDCL), a joint venture between the railways and the state. Meanwhile, Railway Minister Ashwani Vaishnav told Adoor Prakash in the Lok Sabha yesterday that a final decision on the Sabari project would be taken once the revised estimate was received and that the project was being delayed due to lack of interest from the state. Only a revised estimate of 70 km has been received. The Union Minister said that he did not get any help from the state government when there was a law and order problem during the survey.

Updated estimate soon

Government sources said the renewal of the estimate would be completed within two months and it has been informed in writing that half the cost would be given. In 2016, the estimate of 70 km of track prepared by the alignment was revised and given to the Railways. Aerial surveys by small aircraft over the remaining 41 km were made impossible due to heavy rains for four months.

Cost is Rs 3,500 crore

When the 70-kilometer estimate was updated in 2020, there was an increase of 20 percent. Rs 2811 crore was estimated in 2017 for 111 km of roads. It could be more than Rs 3,500 crore.

Cost can be reduced by 20%

Kerala has also pledged to reduce the cost of construction by 20 per cent over railways. Land acquisition costs over Rs 900 crore.

The cost can be reduced by awarding multiple contracts such as electrical, civil, signal, station, track, bridge and formation to a single agency through a global tender.

Elevated paths will be reduced. Height, cutting and filling can be integrated in alignment. Instead of filling in the gaps with earth, bridges will be built.

Angamaly-Erumeli (111 km)

14 stations- Angamaly, Kalady, Perumbavoor, Odakali, Kothamangalam, Muvattupuzha, Vazhakkulam, Thodupuzha, Karinkunnam, Ramapuram, Bharananganam, Chemmalamattam, Kanjirapally, Erumeli

Construction so far

Angamaly-Kalady 7 km railway line

Overbridge on the Periyar

Benefits of Sabari