Lok Sabha Question No. 252 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Angamali-Sabarimala Railwayline
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Adv Dean Kuriakose

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 252

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2024

## ANGAMALI-SABARIMALA RAILWAYLINE

## 252.  ADV DEAN KURIAKOSE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the status  of  processing  the revised  estimate  of  AngamaliSabarimala  new  railway  line  project  after  the  approval  of  the same by Chief Administrative Officer-finance Southern railway on 6/11/2023;
- (b) whether  the  Government  will  consider  to  conduct  a  feasibility study for expanding Angamali-Sabarimala railway line from Erumeli  to  Balaramapuram  and  make  it  a  green  field  railway corridor upto Vizhinjam International Seaport and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the  Government consider to  conduct  a  feasibility  study about  the  possibility  of  ro-ro  service  facility  for  the  plywood industry of Perumbavoor, pineapple and spices of Thodupuzha and rubber of Kanjirapally through Angamali-Sabarimala and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING 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.  252  BY  ADV  DEAN  KURIAKOSE  TO  BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  24.07.2024    REGARDING  ANGAMALISABARIMALA RAILWAYLINE

(a)  to  (c):    Angamali-Sabarimala  via  Erumeli  new  line  project  was sanctioned in 1997-98. Work on Angamali-Kaladi (7 Km) and long lead works on Kaladi-Perumbavoor (10 Km) was 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 support from the State Government of Kerala.

The Estimated cost of the project has been updated by M/s Kerala Rail Development Corporation Ltd. (KRDCL) at  3726.95 crore and submitted to  Government  of  Kerala  on  15.12.2023  for  the  acceptance  of  the estimate  and  willingness  to  share  cost  of  the  project.  However, Government of Kerala has not communicated their views so far.

Meanwhile on public demand, a Detailed Project Report (DPR) of new alignment  from  Chengannur  to  Pamba,    which  is  a  shorter  route  for Sabarimala Shrine, has been taken up.

There  is  no  relation  between  Sabarimala  Rail  project  and  Vizhinjam International Seaport.

Railway  projects  are  taken  up  on  the  basis  of  Remunerativeness, Railway's  own  operational    and  commercial  requirement,  technoeconomic  feasibility,  terrain,  obligatory  points,  demands  raised  by State  Governments,  Central  Ministries,  Members  of  Parliament,  other public  representatives,  socio-economic  considerations  etc.  depending upon throw forward of ongoing projects and overall availability of funds which is a continuous and ongoing process.

Since 2014, there has been substantial increase in fund allocation and commensurate commissioning of projects in State of Kerala as under:-

| Period   | Average Outlay   | Increase w.r.t. average allocation of 2009-14   |
|----------|------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
| 2009-14  | 372 crore/year   | -                                               |
| 2023-24  | 2,033 crore      | 5.5 times                                       |

Though fund allocation has increased manifold but pace of execution of project is dependent on expeditious land acquisition. Railway acquires the  land  through  State  Government.  State  Government  assesses  the compensation  amount  and  advises  to  Railway.  On  receipt  of  demand from  State  Government,  Railway  deposits  compensation  amount  with concerned District  Land  acquisition  Authority.  Execution  of  important infrastructure projects falling fully/partly in the State of Kerala is held up due to delay in land acquisition and only about 62.83 Ha land has been acquired out of total requirement of about 459.54 Ha. Railway had

initiated  efforts  for  acquisition  of  land  but  could  not  succeed  in acquiring land for projects though Railway has paid 2125.61 Crore to Government of Kerala for land acquisition. Support of the Government of Kerala is needed to expedite the land acquisition.

The feasibility study about Roll-on/ Roll - off service facility on a route is examined once line is commissioned.

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