Chengannur–Pamba Railway Project Cancelled as Not Practical; Kerala Began Sabari Rail Land Acquisition Due to Elections, Alleges Minister Vaishnaw
The Railway Minister said in Parliament that the Chengannur–Pamba 75 km railway project has been cancelled because a survey showed it is not practical.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Friday that the Kerala government decided to start land acquisition for the Angamaly–Sabarimala railway line because the state assembly elections are coming soon.
However, problems in the Angamaly–Erumeli Sabarimala railway route have now been cleared, and this project will go ahead. This line will help improve train connectivity to Sabarimala.
The Chengannur-Pamba project to provide connectivity to Sabarimala was considered when the land acquisition for the Sabari route was stalled due to protests by the local residents. Steps have been taken to implement the Sabari Line with the help of the state government at a new estimated cost of Rs 3,801 crore. The Railway Ministry has initiated the land acquisition process on the understanding that the state government will bear 50% of the project cost. The state government gave in to this after several requests. It is not known if it is due to election pressure. It will be ensured that the work continues even after the elections. The project will become a reality if the BJP comes to power, the minister said.
About Kerala’s proposed Silver Line high-speed rail, the minister said it is not practical because it could cause environmental problems. Instead, he said a different high-speed rail project can be considered if the state government wants it. He also praised E. Sreedharan, saying he is respected and his advice on railway technology is welcome.
The minister added that land acquisition is a major problem in Kerala. Out of 476 hectares needed for railway projects, only 65 hectares (14%) has been acquired so far. He said railway development is not possible without the state government’s support.
Railways has spent ₹1,975 crore on land acquisition in Kerala. He also said train services cannot be fully stopped even when stations are being renovated. Currently, in six ongoing railway projects worth ₹3,250 crore in Kerala, 46 km of new tracks and 94 km of track doubling are still pending.