**Subject: Angamali-Erumeli-Sabarimala Railway Project Status**
This document summarizes the current status of the Angamali-Erumeli-Sabarimala railway project in response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 639, answered on July 23, 2025, by the Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting, and Electronics Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw.
The Angamali-Sabarimala via Erumeli new line project, sanctioned in 1997-98, has faced significant delays. Initial work on the Angamali-Kaladi (7 km) and Kaladi-Perumbavoor (10 km) sections was undertaken. However, further progress was impeded by local protests regarding land acquisition and alignment, court cases, and insufficient support from the Government of Kerala.
The estimated project cost has been updated to ₹3801 crore and was submitted to the Government of Kerala in December 2023, requesting acceptance of the estimate and willingness to share project costs. In August 2024, the Government of Kerala communicated conditional consent. The Ministry of Railways has requested the Government of Kerala to submit unconditional consent for cost-sharing and enter into a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the State Government of Kerala, the Ministry of Railways, and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for the project. However, the Government of Kerala indicated on June 3, 2025, that they do not agree to enter into a tripartite agreement.
The Government of Kerala has agreed to acquire land using their 50% share of the project cost. Further project work will commence upon the commencement of land acquisition by the State.
Finally, there is no connection between the Sabarimala Rail project and the Vizhinjam International Seaport.
Key Entities Referenced
Angamali-Erumeli-Sabarimala Railway Line: A railway project connecting Angamali, Erumeli and Sabarimala.
Kerala: A state in India, involved in the Angamali-Erumeli-Sabarimala Railway Line project.
SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW: Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology.
RBI: Reserve Bank of India, proposed party to a tripartite MoU for the Angamali-Erumeli-Sabarimala Railway Line project.
Vizhinjam Port: A seaport mentioned in the context of a potential extension of the railway line, but stated to have no relation to the Sabarimala Rail project.
Thiruvananthapuram: Capital city of Kerala. A potential destination for extending the Angamali-Erumeli-Sabarimala Railway Line.
Angamali-Kaladi: A 7 km section of the Angamali-Erumeli-Sabarimala Railway Line project where work was undertaken.
Kaladi-Perumbavoor: A 10 km section of the Angamali-Erumeli-Sabarimala Railway Line project where long lead works were undertaken.
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 Angamali-
Sabarimala 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-Erumeli-
Sabari 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
...2/-2-
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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