THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the Sabari Rail project being included in the Prime Minister's Gati Shakti Mission to implement infrastructure and transport projects, the project that Kerala has been waiting for a quarter of a century has taken a step forward.

The Centre has also directed to submit revised estimates based on the new policies of the Railways. The current estimate is Rs 3347.35 crore. The cost is likely to increase by at least Rs 400 crores with the revision of the estimates. The decision was taken at the Gati Shakti Mission meeting held in Delhi yesterday.

Announced in 1997, the Angamaly-Erumely 111km Sabari rail line runs through 13km of tunnels. Only Angamali-Kaladi 7km rail line and Periyar flyover have been constructed so far. A 104-kilometre rail line between Kalady and Ermuely is to be constructed.

The purchase and selling of land by 900 people were prohibited 20 years ago. They are unable to sell or mortgage land. The estimate was Rs 517 crores when the project was announced. In 2017, it became Rs 2815 crores. The state government has informed the Centre that it will bear half of the cost. More than 900 crores are needed to acquire the land. Additionally, the cabinet has decided to eliminate the requirement that the railway pays 30% of the land price as an establishment tax.

Conditions

• Optical fibre cables should be laid for communication in the tunnels. Wireless signal systems are required.
• Tunnels should not have crushed stone-paved normal tracks. Concrete tracks like metro tracks are required.
• Two lines are needed for power instead of the one line of 25 kW that is currently in use.

264 crores- spent by Railways

38.16 crores- set aside to acquire the land

Development will come

• Train facilities in hilly districts
• Development of Sabarimala
• Kottayam, Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts will develop
• Good for tourism, freight and trade
• Connectivity to Tamil Nadu if extended to Punalur