Lok Sabha Question No. 1753 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-08
Subject: Railway Projects in Kerala
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: K. Muraleedharan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1753 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2021

RAILWAY PROJECTS IN KERALA

1753.   SHRI K. MURALEEDHARAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of Railway projects sanctioned in the state of Kerala in the last two years;
- (b) the present status of these Projects; and
- (c) the reasons for delay in according sanction to the Angamaly-Sabari rail line project?

ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1753 BY SHRI K. MURALEEDHARAN TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 08.12.2021  REGARDING  RAILWAY PROJECTS IN KERALA

(a)  &  (b):  The  Railway  projects  are  sanctioned  Zonal  Railway-wise  and  not State-wise as the projects span across various State boundaries. During the last  two  years  and  current  financial  year  i.e.  2019-20  to  2021-22,  no  new projects  pertaining  to  New  line,  Gauge  conversion  and  Doubling  falling fully/partly in the State of Kerala have been sanctioned. However, presently, 8  Projects  (2  New  Lines  and  6  Doubling),  costing ` 9,489  crore  for  439  km length  falling  fully/partly  in  Kerala  are  under  different  stages  of  planning/ approval/  execution.  Zone-wise  details  of  all  ongoing  Railway  projects including cost, expenditure and outlay are made available in public domain on  Indian  Railways  website  i.e.    www.indianrailways.gov.in  >  Ministry  of Railways >Railway Board >About Indian Railways >Railway Board Directorates >Finance (Budget) >Rail Budget/Pink Book (Year)> Railway wise Works Machinery and Rolling Stock Programme.

Average annual Budget allocation for Infrastructure and safety works, falling fully/ partly in State of Kerala, during 2014-19 has been enhanced to ` 950 crore per year from ` 372 crore per year during 2009-14, which is 155% more than average annual budget outlay of 2009-14. For financial year 202122 outlay of ` 1,866 crore (original budget outlay of ` 871 crore and additional outlay of ` 995 crore) has been provided for these works, which is 402% more than average annual budget outlay of 2009-14.

During 2014-21, 107 km sections (29 km of Gauge conversion and 78 km of  Doubling  projects)  falling  fully/partly  in  the  State  of  Kerala  have  been commissioned at an average rate 15.29 km per year, which is 39% more than average commissioning during 2009-14 (11 km/year).

(c): Angamali-Sabarimala new rail line was sanctioned in 1997-98 at a cost of ` 550  crore.  Total  length  of  the  project  is  116  Km.  Anticipated  cost  of  the project at 2017-18 rates is ` 2815 crore.

5 km section of this project was passing through Periyar Tiger Reserve Forest. On the request of State Government, the project was terminated at Erumeli due to reserve forest area. Alignment of the project passes through three Districts i.e.  Ernakulam, Idukki and Kottayam districts. Final location survey (FLS) for Angamali-Kaladi-Ramapuram section (70 Km) was completed in  2002  and  further  survey  in  the  Kottayam  district  was  stopped  by  local people in 2007 due to objections on alignment.

Consequently, in this project, work on Angamali-Kaladi (7 Km) and long lead  works  on  Kaladi-Perumbavoor  (10  Km)  have  been  taken  up.  However, further works on this project could not be taken forward due to protests by local people against land acquisition and fixing of alignment of the line, court cases  filed  against  the  project  and  inadequate  response  from  the  State Government of Kerala.

This  has  delayed  the  execution  of  the  above  project  and  as  a  result, project cost has increased from ` 550 crore in 1997 to ` 1566 crore (including land cost of ` 719 crore) in 2011 and further to ` 2,815 crore (including land cost of ` 965 crore) in 2017. As  taking  forward of this project showing 512% increase in project cost solely with Railway Funds was not possible, Railway had requested Government of Kerala vide letters dated 06.09.2011, 22.12.2011, and 08.10.2012 to share at least 50% cost of the project.

Government  of  Kerala  vide  their  letter  dated  27.11.2015  agreed  to share 50% cost of the project. Government of Kerala had also identified this project for execution under Joint Venture Scheme with Ministry of Railways and therefore, an MoU was also signed on 01.09.2016.  Unfortunately, within a  year,  the  State  Government  vide  letter  dated  15.11.2016  withdrew  their own consent to share 50% cost of the project.

However, given the public demand, Railways again conducted detailed deliberations  on  the  feasibility  of  taking  forward  this  project  vis-à-vis  the availability  of  funds.  Due  to  significant  deficit,  it  was  again  decided  by Railways in December, 2017 that the project should be undertaken on cost sharing basis.

Government of Kerala was again requested vide letters dated 06.02.2018 and 01.03.2018 for their consent to share at least 50% cost of the project for the benefit of the State.  There has been no positive response to this  offer.  As  the  State  Government  has  withdrawn  its  own  previously sanctioned consent to share 50% cost of the project and is not cooperating in resolving the various obstructions, Railways has decided to freeze further expenditure  on  this  project  temporarily,  and  keep  execution  of  works  in abeyance, in September, 2019.

Ministry of Railways vide letter dated 11.01.2020 advised Government of Kerala that it is not feasible for Railways to take the project forward solely with Railway funds, and State Government of Kerala was again requested to share  the cost of  development  of  Railway network in the State. This will help Railways to provide the much required rail link for the travelling needs of local people and pilgrims to the Holy Shrine.

After long persuasion, Government of Kerala vide letter dated 07.01.2021 has conveyed their decision to share 50% of the total project cost ( ` 2815  crore)  of  Angamali  -  Sabarimala  Railway  project  through  Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), subject to the condition that operation and maintenance of the track shall be done by Ministry of Railways while the stations along the route  will be developed by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) (through public private partnership route) and the net revenue realized  by  the  SPV  will  be  shared  on  a  50:50  basis  between  State Government and Ministry of Railways, after offsetting the cost of Operation & Maintenance (O&M) as agreed to by Railways. M/S KRDCL has been advised to complete Final Location Survey and to update the project cost.

M/S KRDCL had updated estimate for 70 km length of project only and Lidar Survey for balance length is yet to be done, it is worth mention here that earlier Railway also couldn't take up final location survey (FLS) in the area due to stiff public resistance and no support from Government of Kerala for resolving Law and order issues.  Ministry of Railways will take a decision on receipt of Detailed Estimate of the complete project.  Zonal Railway has been advised to get the estimate revised for the balance project length and to  submit  updated  estimate  of  the  complete  project.    Final  decision  on project will be taken only after receipt of updated estimate for the complete project.

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