After more than two decades of uncertainty, the long-awaited Sabari Rail project is once again showing signs of revival. In a recent discussion between Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, accompanied by Minister for Railways in Kerala, V Abdurahiman, it was decided to send an expert team to Kerala to reinitiate proceedings, including land acquisition. This move signals renewed momentum for a project many in the state had nearly given up on.

According to former MP P C Thomas, the idea of a separate railway line to Sabarimala was first presented in the Parliament in December 1989. Over the next decade, several approvals were granted in phases, with final clearance arriving in 1998 during the tenure of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.

The original proposal was to extend the line from Erumeli to Kanyakumari via Punalur, offering a dedicated railway route for pilgrims from various directions to access Sabarimala. "Though the project cost was initially estimated at ₹550 crore, it has now ballooned to ₹4,000 crore. Despite the delays, I have always remained hopeful, as all necessary approvals had already been secured," he said.

With renewed discussions under way, landowners along the 72-km stretch from Angamaly to Ramapuram where boundary stones have been laid, are finally seeing some light at the tunnel's end. A total of 2,125 families have their properties marked for the railway line, which has made it impossible for them to sell or mortgage their land for years. Along the remaining stretch from Ramapuram to Erumeli, only an aerial survey has been completed so far.

The proposed route includes stations at Angamaly, Kalady, Perumbavoor, Odakkali, Kothamangalam, Muvattupuzha, Vazhakulam, Thodupuzha, Karimkunnam, Ramapuram, Bharananganam, Chemmalamattom, Kanjirappally Road, and Erumeli.

Of the 111-km route, construction has been completed on a 7-km stretch and a one-kilometre-long bridge over the Periyar. Out of the total 303.58 hectares of land required for the project, only 24.40 hectares have been acquired so far. Minister Abdurahiman has announced that land acquisition for the remaining portions will begin in July.

The stretch between Kalady and Thodupuzha spans 48 km and is estimated to cost Rs.720 crore. Disputes between the central and state governments over cost-sharing have been the primary cause of prolonged delays in commencing the project.

In 2015, the UDF government expressed willingness to share half the cost. However, the succeeding LDF government withdrew from that commitment in 2016. Though it agreed again in 2021,this time with conditions, it withdrew from signing the detailed estimate in 2023. The state finally signed the agreement in 2024 but added a clause seeking exemption of its share from the state’s borrowing limits. The Southern Railway has cited these inconsistent stances as reasons for the repeated stalling of the project.

The project cost, which was ₹540 crore in 1997, rose to ₹2,815 crore due to delays. In 2019, the Railway Ministry froze the project due to indecision over land acquisition and cost-sharing, leaving behind only a 7-km completed stretch from Angamaly to Kalady. The latest estimate under consideration is ₹3,810 crore, while the notification for land acquisition up to Ramapuram was issued much earlier.

Although the state proposed implementing the project through KIIFB, the Railway Ministry insisted on a revised estimate. It also recommended converting the route into a double line and extending it to Pampa. This expansion would raise the cost to ₹9,600 crore, making it nearly impossible for Kerala to shoulder half the amount.

If the rail line to Erumeli, which serves as gateway to Sabarimala, materialises, it is expected to usher in significant development across the hilly regions of Kottayam and Idukki districts. The project aims to establish 14 new railway stations in regions currently devoid of rail connectivity. It would offer rail access not just to Sabarimala but also to the proposed Sabarimala Airport and various under-connected regions in Idukki.

The current estimate also includes upgrades to the power system to support Vande Bharat trains. Besides pilgrimage travel, the project is set to benefit key economic clusters such as the plywood and rice-processing industries in Perumbavoor and Kalady, pineapple growers in Vazhakulam and various tourist destinations in eastern Kerala.

The 540 plywood units in Perumbavoor, the massive furniture cluster in Kothamangalam–Nellikuzhy (India’s largest), the KINFRA food park at Nellad, rice mills in Kalady (which supply 80% of Kerala's rice) and the KINFRA spices park at Thodupuzha all stand to gain. The project could also facilitate agricultural exports of pineapple, cardamom, pepper, rubber and more.

Currently, an average of 500 truckloads of plywood from Perumbavoor and 250 loads of pineapple from Vazhakulam – India’s pineapple capital, are dispatched daily to national and international markets. This rail corridor also has potential to link with the proposed Rail Freight Corridor, announced in he Central budget by linking up with the Vizhinjam Port. The state has already submitted a proposal to the Railways in this regard.

Further, extending the line from Erumeli to Balaramapuram via Ranni, Pathanamthitta, Konni, Pathanapuram, Anchal, Kilimanoor, Venjaramoodu, Nedumangad and Kattakada could also help create a parallel rail route to the state capital with 25 additional stations.

14 proposed stations

1. 0 km – Angamaly
The existing Angamaly station will be upgraded to a junction. The Sabari Rail line will begin here, diverging to the left from the existing track toward Ernakulam.

2. 6.95 km – Kalady
Located on the Kalady–Airport Road, this station was constructed several years ago and is just 5 km from Kochi International Airport. Track laying up to this station is already complete.

3. 16 km – Perumbavoor
Known as a major hub for the wood trade and rice processing, this station holds great potential for freight services.

4. 26 km – Odakkali
Situated in an agriculturally rich zone, Odakkali benefits from extensive cultivation of paddy, plantain, nutmeg and rubber.

5. 31 km – Kothamangalam
This station is expected to serve as a gateway to Munnar. Distances: Munnar – 80 km, Adimaly – 50 km and Cheeyappara Waterfalls – 30 km.

6. 40 km – Muvattupuzha
The proposed station will be located near the upcoming Kochi–Theni Greenfield National Highway.

7. 48 km – Vazhakulam
Popularly known as the Pineapple City of Kerala, the station here will be located near the Thodupuzha Road.

8. 55 km – Thodupuzha
The first railway station in Idukki district. Proposed location is near the junction of Kolani Bypass and Ramamangalam-Thodupuzha Road.

9. 62 km – Karimkunnam
This station will be near the Moolamattom Powerhouse and FCI godown. It also provides connectivity to the KINFRA Spices Park at Thudanganad.

10. 69 km – Ramapuram
The station is proposed at Pizhaku. Land acquisition for the project has been completed up to this point.

11. 80 km – Bharananganam (for Pala)
The station will be located at Deepthi Junction, about 6 km from Pala.

12. 90 km – Chemmalamattom
Proposed station lies just 5 km from Erattupetta, offering access to the high ranges.

13. 100 km – Kanjirappally Road
Proposed near Parathodu, this station will provide railway access to several hill destinations: Thekkady (71 km), Vagamon (58 km), Peerumedu (35 km), Ponkunnam (9 km) and Kuttikanam (32 km).

14. 111 km – Erumeli
The final station is planned near MES College, just 5 km from Erumely town. Sabarimala is 43 km away and the proposed Sabarimala Airport is located 8 km from here.

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