Lok Sabha Question No. 4382 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-20
Subject: Delay in Sabari Railway Project
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Hibi Eden

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4382 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.08.2025

## DELAY IN SABARI RAILWAY PROJECT

## 4382. SHRI HIBI EDEN:

Will the Minister of  RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  refusal  to  exempt  Kerala  Infrastructure  Investment  Fund Board (KIIFB) borrowings from the borrowing ceiling is hindering the timely execution of the Sabari Railway project despite the State's willingness to share 50 per cent of the revised project cost and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  held  any  consultations  with  the stakeholders regarding the financial structuring and cost-sharing of the Angamali-Sabari Railway project, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government  has  received any request from the Government of Kerala seeking exemption of the Kerala Infrastructure  Investment  Fund  Board  borrowings  for  the  Sabari Railway  project  from  the  State's  borrowing  ceiling  and  if  so,  the details thereof; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  grant  special  exemption  or flexibility  to  the  State  of  Kerala  to  raise  funds  through  KIIFB specifically for nationally significant infrastructure projects like the Sabari  Railway  Project,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (d): No, there is no barrier in progress of Angamali - Sabarimala

project at present. 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 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 communicated their conditional consent stating that the debt incurred by Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) be fully exempted from the State's  borrowing  limit.  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 between State Government of Kerala, Ministry of Railways and RBI for the project.

This is a practical way forward.

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

In  the  recent  meeting  with  the  Chief  Minister  of  Kerala,  Minister  of Railways requested the Government of Kerala to acquire land using their share of 50% of the cost of the project. Once land acquisition by State

starts, work can proceed further. With this arrangement, Government of Kerala can take the project forward.

As  a  follow  up,  a  high  level  team  from  Ministry  of  Railways  led  by Additional  Member/Works  met  with  Kerala  Chief  Secretary  and  other senior officials on 29.07.2025. Govt. of Kerala was requested to initiate land  acquisition  proceedings  for this  project so  that  the  project  can  be taken up.

## Kerala:

Budget  allocation  for  infrastructure  projects  and  safety  works,  falling fully/partly in the State of Kerala is as under:

| Period   | Outlay                           |
|----------|----------------------------------|
| 2009-14  | ₹372 crore/year                  |
| 2025-26  | ₹3,042 crore (more than 8 times) |

Execution  of  important  infrastructure  projects  falling  fully/partly  in  the State of Kerala are held up due to delay in land acquisition. Status of land acquisition in the State of Kerala is as under:

| Total Land required for Projects in Kerala   | 476 Ha       |
|----------------------------------------------|--------------|
| Land Acquired                                | 73 Ha (15%)  |
| Balance Land to be acquired                  | 403 Ha (85%) |

Government of India is geared up to execute projects, however success depends upon the support of Government of Kerala.

Railway had deposited ₹2112 crore for land acquisition to Government of Kerala.  Support of the Government of Kerala is needed to expedite the land acquisition. For instance, details of some major projects which are delayed due to land acquisition are as under:-

|   SN | Name of the project                        |   Total land required (in Ha) |   Land acquired (in Ha) |   Balance Land to be acquired (in Ha) |
|------|--------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------|---------------------------------------|
|    1 | Angamali - Sabarimala new line (111 Km)    |                           416 |                      24 |                                   392 |
|    2 | Ernakulam - Kumbalam Patch Doubling (8 Km) |                             4 |                       3 |                                     1 |
|    3 | Kumbalam - Turavur Patch Doubling (16 Km)  |                            10 |                       9 |                                     1 |
|    4 | Trivandrum - Kanyakumari Doubling (87 Km)  |                            41 |                      36 |                                     5 |
|    5 | Shoranur - Vallathol Doubling (10 Km)      |                             5 |                       0 |                                     5 |

The Government of India is working diligently to strengthen the railway network  in  Kerala.  To  strengthen  the  railway  network  passing  through Kerala, the following surveys have been sanctioned:

|   SN | Route                                    | Length   |
|------|------------------------------------------|----------|
|    1 | Mangaluru - Shoranur 3 rd& 4 th Line     | 308 Km   |
|    2 | Shoranur - Coimbatore 3 rd& 4 th Line    | 99 Km    |
|    3 | Shoranur - Ernakulam 3 rd Line           | 107 Km   |
|    4 | Ernakulam - Kayankulam 3 rd Line         | 115 Km   |
|    5 | Kayankulam - Thiruvanathapuram 3 rd Line | 105 Km   |
|    6 | Thiruvananthapuram - Nagercoil 3 rd Line | 71 Km    |

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