Sabarimala Railway is a proposed 111-kilometre (69 mi)-long railway line in Kerala, India, that will run from Angamaly to Erumeli. It was sanctioned in 1998 by Indian Railways. The line's name comes from the fact that it will provide a railway facility to pilgrims visiting the Sabarimala Temple (which number more than the total population of Kerala).[1]
According to a memorandum of understanding signed between the state of Kerala and the Ministry of Railways on 27 January 2016, commercially viable railway projects will be identified and handed over to the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to be fast-tracked on a 51:49 per cent equity basis. The SPV has discussed an extension to Punalur. The Sabari Railway project has been included under PRAGATI (PM-Proactive Government and Timely Implementation) and is monitored by the Prime Minister’s Office.
Sabarimala Railway construction across the Periyar river
The Sabarimala Railway is the first phase of a 250-kilometre-long Angamaly–Erumeli–Pathanamthitta–Punalur–Nedumangad–Thiruvananthapuram railway line, which will provide 25 new railway stations in five southern districts of Kerala. On 7 January 2021, the government of Kerala informed the Railway Board of its willingness to share 50% of the cost of the Angamali–Erumeli section. An amount of ₹2,000 crores was allocated to this project by the Government of Kerala through the 2021 state budget. The government has started land acquisition, and established special Thahasildhar offices at Perumbavoor and Palai in 2006 and at Muvattupuzha in 2010 for the process. The railway and revenue department have conducted a joint survey for the land acquisition of this railway line, laid a boundary stone for the acquired land, and notified for land acquisition up to the proposed Ramapuram station in Kottayam district. By 2010, 90% of railway line construction up to Kaladi railway station (a length of 7 kilometres (4.3 mi)) was completed.
The 111-kilometre (69 mi)-long Sabari Railway line was initially proposed in the 1997–98 railway budget. The project connects Angamaly to Erumeli—the gateway to the famous Sabarimala Temple—and serves as a third rail corridor for Kerala State, linking the Idukki district and suburbs in southeastern Kerala to the Indian Railways network. This new line has 14 stations, of which 10 are crossing stations and 4 are halt stations.
There is another proposal for a new line from Erumeli to Punalur for which a reconnaissance survey has been done by the railways. If completed, it will join the Kollam–Sengottai line, becoming a third route to Tamil Nadu from Kerala via that line.
Stations
The Sabarimala Railway will traverse culturally, religiously, and commercially essential places and several tourist locations. The road traffic in this area has almost reached a saturation point, resulting in excessive delays and unpredictable roadblocks; the proposed railway line would alleviate these road travel hazards.
Kalady is the birthplace of the humanitarian and philosopher Adi Sankaracharya. The place is home to many temples, including shrines dedicated to Sri Sankara, Sarada Devi, Sri Krishna, and Sri Ramakrishna. Festival celebrations here are solemn events that attract believers in large numbers. This location is called 'Crocodile Ghat' and attracts numerous visitors. Marthoma Mandapam, a Malayattoor shrine hill church where relics of the Apostle St. Thomas are preserved, is also close to Kaladi. The Golden Cross at Kurishumudi is believed to have formed when St. Thomas knelt on a rock and signed a cross with his finger. Another sight at the hill is the permanent footprint and the marks of knees imprinted on the rock, which is believed to be that of St. Thomas. This hill shrine, over time, has emerged as one of the most famous and largest pilgrim centres in the name of St. Thomas in India, and thousands of devotees congregate here to get his blessings. A rice-based industrial cluster is located in Kaladi: 90% of the rice used in Kerala is processed through the industrial units at Kaladi.
Perumbavoor is home to 450 plywood manufacturing units. Irapuram KINFRA rubber industrial park is also found in Perumbavoor. Perumbavoor has 3.5 lakh migrant labours, working in various industrial units. The city is also a commercial center and the headquarters of Kunnathunaad Taluk. Thiruvairanikulam Temple is located near the Perumbavoor.
Muvattupuzha is a growing urban centre and the headquarters of Muvattupuzha Taluk. Several higher educational institutions are located here. KINFRA industrial park is situated in Nellad, near Muvattupuzha.
Pala is home to the Tomb of St. Alphonsa, located in Bharananganam Shrine church. It is an essential Christian pilgrim center of Kerala, visited by thousands of Christian devotees. It is also the gateway to famous hill stations like Vagaman, Elappara, and Illikkakallu. Pala is one of the essential education centers of Kerala and the second largest commercial center of Kottayam district. It is the headquarters of Meenachil Taluk. Nearby ancient Christian pilgrim centers include Pala old church, Cherppungal church, Kizhathadiyoor church, and Lalam old church.
Kanjirapally is a center of rubber production in Kerala. It is also a commercial center and the headquarters of Kanjirapally Taluk. It is the nearest railway station for tourist centers and hill stations like Thekkady, Peermedu, Parunthumpara, and Kuttikkanam.
Erumeli is the gateway to the Sabarimala shrine temple. Pettathullal, or Petta Kettu, is a historic ritualistic dance held annually at Erumeli. An essential element is 'Kanni Ayyappas', where the first-timers to Sabarimala must participate in the thullal by having an arrow. Visiting the Vavar mosque at Erumeli by the Ayyappa devotees is an essential ritual of Sabarimala pilgrimage. Erumeli is also called the center of the religious fraternity of the country. A survey was conducted for the extension of the Sabari railway line to Punaloor via Ranni, Pathanamthitta, Konni, Koodal, Pathanapuram, which would thereby connect it with Kollam–Sengottai railway line.
Project timeline
7 January 2021 – Government of Kerala conveys willingness to share 50% project cost
Railway Board advised the Joint Venture Company, Kerala Rail Development Corporation (KRDC), to revise the detailed estimate and prepare the DPR.
21 March 2022 – KRDC submits the revised estimate of the Angamaly–Sabari Project to Southern Railway for an estimated value of Rs. 3,454 crores
18 June 2022 – DPR is prepared and submitted to Southern Railway
21 July 2022 – General Manager of Southern Railway approves process of the detailed estimate and DPR for sanction of the Railway Board
The portion of the project from Angamali to Kaladi for a length of 8 km was 99% completed by 2016 but not commissioned. The railway has spent about Rs. 264 crores for the project.
The state government had previously set up land acquisition offices for the project, and land acquisition for the project up to Ramapuram was in various stages of progress; however, the freezing of the project by Railways led the state government to stop all land acquisition activities and close the field offices.[when?]
Railway Board was requested to sanction the revised estimate, restart the project, and provide sufficient funds and permission to proceed with the land acquisition.[when?]
13 November 2022 – A meeting between the higher officials of Prime Minister Gati Shakthi Project, Railway Board, and KRDC decides to update the revised estimate of Sabari railway for Vande Bharat train service.
27 November 2022 – KRDC assures that they will submit the revised estimate of Sabari railway with the Vande Bharat train service facility.
Railway Board has directed the zonal offices to examine the possibility of providing railway connectivity to towns having more than 50,000 population. The inclusion of Nedumangad Municipality in the list has increased the chance for expansion of the Sabari railway to Thiruvananthapuram.
