Lok Sabha Question No. 3894 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-18
Subject: Sabari Railway Line Project in Kerala
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Anto Antony

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3894

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2024

## SABARI RAILWAY LINE PROJECT IN KERALA

## 3894.   SHRI ANTO ANTONY:

Will the Minister of  RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has made any decision of implementation of Sabari Railway Line Project in Kerala;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  steps  taken  by  the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government had given any assurance to the State to implement the project;
- (d)
- if so, the details thereof and steps taken in this regard;
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  given  any  direction  regarding funding for implementation of the said project, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether  the  Government  is  providing  interest  free  loan  for implementation of the said project, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to  (f):  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 ₹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. The Government of  Kerala  has  communicated  their  willingness  to  share  the  cost  of project with certain conditions in August, 2024. 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.

The completion of any Railway project depends on various factors like quick  land  acquisition  by  State  Government,  forest  clearance  by officials  of  forest  department,  deposition  of  cost  share  by  State Government  in  cost  sharing  projects,  priority  of  projects,  shifting  of infringing utilities, statutory clearances from various authorities, geological and topographical conditions of area, law and order situation in  the  area  of  project(s)  site,  number  of  working  months in a year for particular project site due to climate conditions etc.

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                  |
| 2024-25  | ₹3,011 crore (more than 8 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  and  the  completion  of  a  railway projects  is  dependent  of  land  acquisition.    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 475 Ha   | Total Land required for Projects in Kerala 475 Ha   |
|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
| Land Acquired                                       | 64 Ha (13%)                                         |
| Balance Land to be acquired                         | 411 Ha (87%)                                        |

Government of India is geared up to execute projects, however success depends  upon  the  support  of  Government  of  Kerala.  Railway  had deposited ₹2111.83 crore for land acquisition to Government of Kerala.

Support  of  the  Government  of  Kerala  is  needed  to  expedite  the  land acquisition.

*****