**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha regarding the extension of the Angamali-Sabarimala railway line, to be answered on 11.02.2026. It outlines the project's current status, challenges, planned extensions, connectivity projects, and budget allocations for railway projects in Kerala. The main impediment to project completion is land acquisition.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Angamali-Sabarimala Railway Project:**
* The project was sanctioned in 1997-98. Initial work was done, but progress was halted due to protests, court cases, and inadequate support from the Government of Kerala.
* The estimated cost has been updated to ₹3,801 crore and submitted to the Government of Kerala for acceptance and cost-sharing.
* The Government of Kerala has initiated land acquisition proceedings following a request from the Government of India, and the Ministry of Railways is monitoring progress.
* **Extension to Thiruvananthapuram:**
* A survey from Erumeli to Thiruvananthapuram (145 km) was conducted, but the project was not pursued due to low traffic projections.
* **Connectivity to Vizhinjam International Seaport:**
* A new line from Balaramapuram – Vizhinjam Port (11 km) is being undertaken by Vizhinjam International Seaport limited, an SPV of the Government of Kerala under a Non-Government Railway model.
* **Rail Connectivity to Nedumangad:**
* Nedumangad is served by Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station, which is 18 km away.
* **Railway Project Sanctioning Factors:**
* Sanctioning depends on traffic projections, connectivity, missing links, congestion, state government/public demands, operational requirements, socio-economic considerations, and funding availability.
* **Budget Allocation for Kerala:**
* Budget allocation has increased significantly in recent years.
* ₹372 crore/year was allocated in 2009-14.
* ₹3,042 crore (more than 8 times) was allocated in 2025-26.
* **Sanctioned Projects:**
* As of 01.04.2025, 06 projects (02 new line and 04 doubling) of 266 km length, costing ₹9,415 crore falling fully/partly in Kerala are sanctioned.
* **Surveys:**
* In the last three years, surveys for 09 projects (03 new line and 06 doubling) totaling 1,124 km in Kerala have been sanctioned.
* **Land Acquisition Delays:**
* Project execution is delayed due to land acquisition challenges.
* Out of 476 ha of land required for projects in Kerala, only 65 ha (14%) have been acquired, leaving a balance of 411 ha (86%).
* ₹1,975 crore has been deposited by the Railway for land acquisition.
* Details of the specific projects are listed, including the amount of land required vs. acquired.
* **Project Completion Factors:**
* Completion depends on land acquisition, forest clearance, utility shifting, statutory clearances, geological conditions, law and order, and working months.
**Impact Analysis**
**Government of Kerala**
* **Impact:** Required to expedite land acquisition for railway projects.
* **Action Required:** Provide support to expedite land acquisition, including addressing protests and court cases, and provide required clearances.
**Ministry of Railways**
* **Impact:** Responsible for monitoring land acquisition, project execution, and ensuring adequate budget allocation.
* **Action Required:** Follow up on land acquisition progress with the Government of Kerala, address factors delaying project completion, and manage funds effectively.
**Local Population (Kerala)**
* **Impact:** Affected by land acquisition and construction activities, but will benefit from improved rail connectivity if the projects are successfully executed.
* **Action Required:** Cooperate with the land acquisition process once concerns are addressed to enable the development and avoid further delays.
Key Entities Referenced
Angamali - Sabarimala Railway Line: A railway project to connect Angamali and Sabarimala via Erumeli, facing challenges related to land acquisition and funding.
Ministry of Railways: The central government ministry responsible for planning, construction, and maintenance of railways.
Kerala: Indian state where the railway projects are located and whose government's support is crucial for land acquisition.
PM Gati Shakti Scheme: Government of India initiative to improve multimodal connectivity.
Vizhinjam International Seaport: The new railway line that will be extended to Vizhinjam Port.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1989
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2026
EXTENSION OF ANGAMALI - SABARIMALA RAILWAY LINE
1989. ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:
SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:
SHRI ANTO ANTONY:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) the present status of the Sabarai railway project between Angamaly
and Erumeli and the progress made so far including land acquisition and
fund allocation;
(b) whether the Government has proposed for extension of Angamali-
Sabarimala railway line from Erumeli to Vizhinjam International Seaport
and further South to Thiruvananthapuram via Ranni and Pathanapuram
and if so, the details thereof including action taken/response of the
Government thereon;
(c) whether the Government of Kerala has submitted any such proposal, if
so, the details thereof;
(d) whether any feasibility study, survey or cost-benefit analysis has been
conducted for the proposed extension and if so, the outcome of such
studies;
(e) whether the Railways plans for extension of Sabari railway line for
providing rail connectivity to towns above 50000 population including
Nedumangad as proposed under PM Gati Shakti Scheme and if so, the
details thereof; and
(f) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to provide rail
connectivity to the interior districts of Kerala through this extension
and the timeline envisaged, if approved?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
...2/-
§-2-
(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
Government of Kerala. Therefore, the project could not proceed ahead.
The estimated cost of the Angamali - Sabarimala via Erumeli new line
project was updated at ₹3,801 crore and submitted to Government of
Kerala 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. Government of Kerala was requested by Railway to submit
unconditional consent for sharing the cost.
Then the Minister of Railways requested the Chief Minister 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.
Now, on the request of Govt. of India, the Govt. of Kerala has initiated land
acquisition proceedings and the Angamali – Sabarimala new line project
has moved forward. Ministry of Railways is following up the land
acquisition process with Govt. of Kerala.
The survey from Erumeli toThiruvananthapuram new line (145 km) via
Pathanamthitta & Punalur was carried out, however, the Project could not
be taken forward due to low traffic projections.
...3/--3-
Further, to provide rail connectivity to Vizhinjam International Seaport, new
line from Balaramapuram – Vizhinjam Port (11 km) has been taken up by
Vizhinjam International Seaport limited, an SPV of Govt of Kerala under
Non-Government Railway model.Balaramapuram is existing station on
Thiruvananthapuram- Nagercoil section.
The rail connectivity to Nedumangad is served by Thiruvananthapuram
Central Railway Station which is nearly 18 km away.
Sanctioning of a railway project for extension/augmentation of railway
network including connectivity to unconnected towns and cities depends
upon parameters/factors such as:
Anticipated traffic projections and remunerativeness of the
proposed route
First and last mile connectivity provided by the project
Connection of missing links and providing additional route
Augmentation of congested/saturated lines
Demands raised by State Governments/Central Ministries/Public
representatives
Railway’s own operational requirements
Socio-economic considerations
Overall availability of funds
Kerala:-
Budget allocation in the recent years has increased significantly. Budget
allocation for infrastructure projects and safety works, falling
fully/partly in the State of Kerala including Angamali – Sabarimala
project is as under:-
...4/--4-
Period Outlay
2009-14 ₹ 372 crore/year
2025-26 ₹3,042 crore (more than 8
times)
As on 01.04.2025, 06 projects (02 new line and 04 doubling) of 266 km
length, costing ₹9,415 crore falling fully/partly in Kerala are sanctioned.
The summary is as under:-
Category No. of Total Length Balance Expenditure
projects Length Commissioned to upto March
complete 2025
(₹in Crore)
New line 02 146 km 0 km 146 km 309
Doubling 2,941
04 120 km 26 km 94 km
/multitracking
Total 06 266 km 26 km 240 km 3,250
Zonal Railway wise details of Railway projects are made available in public
domain on Indian Railway’s website.
Details of some of the recently completed projects falling fully/partly in
Kerala are as under :
S. Cost
Project
N (₹ in Crores)
1 Dindigul-Pollachi-Palghat & Pollachi-Coimbatore
1,360
gauge conversion (217 km)
2 Quilon-Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur gauge conversion (357
1,122
km)
...5/--5-
3 Mulanturutti-Kuruppantara doubling (24 km) 303
4 Chenganur-Chingavanam doubling (27 km) 436
5 Ambalapuzha-Haripad doubling (18 km) 346
6 Kurruppanthara-Chingavanam doubling (27 km) 749
Some of the projects falling fully/partly in Kerala which have been taken up
are as under:
Cost
S No. Project
(₹ in Crores)
1 Tirunnavaya –Guruvayur new line (35 Km) 138
2 Angamali-Sabarimala new line (111 km) 3,801
3 Ernakulam-Kumbalam doubling (8 km) 595
4 Kumbalam-Thuravur Patch doubling (16 803
km)
5 Trivandrum- Kanyakumari doubling (87 km) 3,786
6 Shoranur - Vallathol doubling (10 km) 367
In last three years (i.e. 2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-25 and current financial
year i.e. 2025-26), total 09 Nos. of Surveys (03 new line and 06 doubling)
falling fully/partly in the State of Kerala having a total length of 1,124 km
have been sanctioned and survey work has been taken up.
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 65 ha (14%)
Balance Land to be acquired 411 ha (86%)
Railway had deposited ₹1,975 crore for land acquisition to Government of
...6/--6-
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 Balance
land acquired Land to
required (in Ha) be
(in Ha) acquired
(in Ha)
1. Angamali - Sabarimala new line (111 416 24 392
km)
2. Ernakulam – Kumbalam Patch 4 3 1
doubling (8 km)
3. Kumbalam – Turavur Patch doubling 10 9 1
(16 km)
4. Shoranur - Vallathol doubling (10 km) 5 0 5
Government of India is geared up to execute projects, however success
depends upon the support of Government of Kerala.
Completion of Railway project/s depends on various factors which include
the following:
Land acquisition by State Government
Forest clearance
Shifting of infringing utilities
Statutory clearances from various authorities
Geological and topographical conditions of area
Law and order situation in the area of project site
Number of working months in a year for particular project site etc.
All these factors affect the completion time and cost of the project/s.
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