Lok Sabha Question No. 639 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Angamali-Erumeli-Sabari Railway Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Adv. Adoor Prakash, Shri Benny Behanan, Adv Dean Kuriakose, Shri Anto Antony

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 639 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025

## ANGAMALI-ERUMELI-SABARI RAILWAY LINE

639.  SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:

ADV DEAN KURIAKOSE:

ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH: SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

Will the Minister of  RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the  Union  Government  will  bear  the  full  cost  of  AngamaliSabarimala railway project or increase maximum borrowing limit of the State as the Kerala asks for an increase in maximum borrowing limit of the State to share the cost and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  details  of  the  steps  taken  by  the  Railways  to  defreeze  the Angamali-Erumeli-Sabari railway project as requested by the Kerala and all MPs of the State;
- (c) the plan of the Railways to distribute the land price to 70 KMs long boundary  stone  laid  land  on  2005  to  construct  Angamali-ErumeliSabari railway line project;
- (d) whether  any  decision  has  been  taken  to  disburse  compensation  to the  landowners  whose  land  has  been  earmarked  for  the  project  in 2005;
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  reinstate  railway office for implementation of this project;
- (f) whether the Government has taken any steps to acquire the land and if so, the details thereof; and
- (g) whether the Government has any plan to extend this railway line upto Thiruvananthapuram  and  to  connect  Vizhinjam  Port  and  if  so,  the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)  to  (g):  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  at  ₹3801  crore  and submitted to Government of Kerala in December, 2023 for the acceptance of the estimate and willingness to share cost of the project.

In  August  2024,  the  Government  of  Kerala  has  communicated  their conditional consent. Government of Kerala has been requested by Railway to submit unconditional consent for sharing the Cost.

The Government of Kerala has also been requested to enter into tripartite MoU among State Government of Kerala, Ministry of Railways and RBI for the Project.

However, in the Memorandum submitted by Govt. of Kerala to Minister of Railways  on  3rd  June,  2025,  it  has  been  intimated  that  State  Govt.  of Kerala does not agree to enter into tripartite agreement.

The Govt. of Kerala has agreed to acquire land using their share of 50% of the  cost  of  the  project.  Once  land  acquisition  by  State  starts,  work  can proceed further.

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

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