Kerala Cabinet Approves ₹1,900 Crore KIIFB Funding for Angamaly–Erumeli Sabarimala Railway Project
Thiruvananthapuram: The State Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, has approved a decision for the Kerala government to bear 50% of the total cost of the Angamaly–Erumeli Sabarimala railway project and to provide ₹1,900 crore via KIIFB funding.
This 110-kilometre railway line will provide a safe and convenient mode of travel for Sabarimala pilgrims and will also significantly boost the economic growth of the eastern high-range areas of Ernakulam, Idukki, and Pathanamthitta districts. Once completed, it will enable easy connectivity from Angamaly, located on National Highway 66, to towns such as Perumbavoor, Muvattupuzha, Thodupuzha, and Pala.
In the first phase of the project, land acquisition for 8 kilometres has been completed. Nearly 90% of the construction work for the 7-kilometre stretch between Angamaly and Kalady had been completed years ago. Although land acquisition notifications had been issued for the remaining stretches, they have lapsed, and the procedures must now restart from the beginning. Due to hurdles in land acquisition and lack of adequate allocation in the Railway Budget, the project has remained stalled for over 25 years.
As per Government Order dated 07.01.2021 (G.O.(Ms) No. 1/2021/Trans), the State had informed that 50% of the project cost could be met through KIIFB funding. At that time, the estimated project cost was ₹2,815 crore, which has now increased to ₹3,800.9 crore. The State government will bear half of this amount.
A total of 303.58 hectares of land is required for the Sabarimala railway project. The estimated cost is ₹1,361 crore for land acquisition and ₹2,439.93 crore for construction. Land needs to be acquired in Ernakulam, Idukki, and Kottayam districts.
Revenue authorities have been instructed to begin land acquisition procedures. The Cabinet also decided to inform the Union Railway Ministry of this decision.
Minister V Abdurahiman had called a meeting of the district collectors of Ernakulam, Kottayam and Idukki and had directed them to issue a notification for land acquisition yesterday. A survey and social impact study have to be completed for land acquisition. Revenue officials and agencies have been assigned for this. The Revenue Department was also directed to re-establish land acquisition units and depute special tehsildars for land acquisition. The land acquisition notification will be issued soon.
This is the first time in India’s history that a state government is taking on such a major financial responsibility for a railway project. The State has also allocated ₹5,580 crore through KIIFB for national highway projects in Kerala.