Sabarimala Railway

Sabarimala Railway Construction across Periyar river

111-km long Angamali - Erumeli Sabari railway is the 1st phase of 250 KMs long Angamali -Erumeli - Pathanamthitta - Punaloor- Nedumangad -Thiruvananthapuram railway line. Angamali -Erumeli - Pathanamthitta - Punaloor- Nedumangad -Thiruvananthapuram railway will provide 25 new railway stations in 5 southern districts of Kerala. Kerala. The government of Kerala informed Railway Board on 7/1/2021, of its willingness to share 50% of the cost of the Angamali - Erumeli, Sabari railway project. An amount of Rs. 2,000 crores is allocated to this project by the Government of Kerala through the 2021 state budget. The government started the land acquisition to construct this Sabari railway project. It established special Thahasildhar offices at Perumbavoor and Palai in 2006 and at Muvattupuzha in 2010 for the land acquisition of Sabari railway. The railway and revenue department has conducted the 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 railway station in the Kottayam district. 90% of railway line construction up to Kaladi railway station 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) was completed by 2010.

The 111 Km long Angamaly – Erumeli Sabari Railway line was initially proposed in the 1997-98 Railway Budget. This work is figuring in Pink Book 2022-23 also. The project connecting Angamaly to Erumeli, the Gateway to the famous Sabarimala Temple, serves as a 3rd rail corridor for Kerala State, linking the Idukki district and suburbs in the eastern part of southern Kerala to the Indian Rail network. The new line has 14 stations, of which 10 are crossing stations, and 4 are halt stations. The line connects Angamali to Erumeli. There is another proposal for a new line from Erumeli to Punalur for which a reconnaissance survey has been done by the Railways. If this line is completed, it will become a third route to Tamil Nadu from Kerala via the Kollam-Sengottai line. The Sabari Railway project has been included under PRAGATI (PM-PRO ACTIVE GOVERNANCE AND TIMELY IMPLEMENTATION) & is monitored by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Stations & their importance

1. Kaladi

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 it 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.

2. Perumbavoor

450 plywood manufacturing units are located in Perumbavoor. Irapuram KINFRA rubber industrial park is also found in Perumbavoor. Perumbavoor has 3.5 lakh migrant labours, working in various industrial units. It is also a commercial center & headquarters of Kunnathunaad Taluk. Thiruvairanikulam Temple is located near the Perumbavoor.

3. Odakkali

The aromatic and Medicinal plants research station located close to the proposed Station has an herbal garden comprising 350 species of medicinal herbs.

4. Kothamangalam

Kothamangalam is the gateway of the well-known tourist center Munnar, also called Southern Kashmeer. Eravikulam National Park, Bhoothaankett dam & the famous bird sanctuary in Thattekad are near Kothamangalam. The renowned furniture industrial cluster is located in Nellikuzhy on the outskirt of Kothamangalam. It is a commercial center & headquarters of Kothamangalam Taluk.

5. Muvattupuzha

Muvattupuzha is a growing urban Centre of central Kerala & Head quarter of Muvattupuzha Taluk. Several higher educational institutions are located here. KINFRA industrial park is situated in Nellad near Muvattupuzha.

6. Vazhakulam

Vazhakulam is the biggest pineapple market in India. Vazhakkulam Pineapple is famous across the country and is transported by trucks all over India.

7. Thodupuzha

Thodupuzha is the commercial capital of the Idukki district & gateway of Idukki. It is the headquarter of Thudupuzha Taluk also. Tourist destinations like Idukki arch dam, Kulamave dam, Malankara tourism hub, Pullikkaanam, Elaveezhapoonchira, Thommankutthu & Aanachadikutthu water falls, Ramakkalmedu, etc. are within short leads from Thodupuzha.

8. Karimkunnam

Karimkunnam will be the nearest railway station for Moolamattam FCI Godown in the Idukki district. It will also be the nearest railway station for the industrial cluster in KINFRA Spices Park, Muttam, Thodupuzha.

9. Ramapuram

Ramapuram houses the temple of Rama and his three brothers (4 Temples) in a radius of just 3.5 km. Lakshmana at Koodappulam, Bharata at Amanakara, and Shatrughna at Methiri. The ancient twin-church complex at Ramapuram consists of a smaller church dedicated to St. Augustine and a larger one dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. While the church devoted to St. Augustine dates back to around 1450, the one dedicated to the Blessed Virgin was erected in 1864. The tomb of the saintly Thevarparampil Kunjachan is in St. Augustine’s church. Pope John Paul II has declared him 'The Venerable' for the heroic practice of virtues of this saintly priest. Later Church announced his beatification and canonized him. Thousands of Christian devotees are visiting his tomb for blessings.

10. Bharananganam for Pala

Tomb of St. Alphonsa is located in Bharananganam Shrine church. It is an essential Christian pilgrim center of Kerala, and thousands of Christian devotees visit Bharananganam. it is also the gateway to famous hill stations like Vagaman, Elappara, Illikkakallu etc. Pala is one of the essential education centers of Kerala and 2nd largest commercial center of Kottayam district. It is the headquarter of Meenachil Taluk. Several ancient Christian pilgrim centers, like Pala old church, Cherppungal church, Kizhathadiyoor church, and Lalam old church, etc. are around Pala.

11. Chemmalamattam

It is the nearest railway station to the important commercial center Eraattupetta. St. George Church Aruvithura & 12 Apostles church Chemmalamattam are important pilgrim centers of the area. engathanam water fall situates near to chemmalamattam station.

12. Kanjirapally Road

Kanjirapally is the cradle of rubber production in Kerala. It is also a commercial center & headquarter of Kanjirapally Taluk. It is the nearest railway station for tourist centers and hill stations like Thekkady, Peermedu, Parunthumpara, Kuttikkanam etc.

13. Erumeli for Sabarimala

It 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, and there by connecting it with Kollam-Sengottai railway line is also planned.

The alignment traverses culturally, religiously & commercially essential places and several tourist spots. There are a lot of important tourist destinations flanking the alignment. As the table above shows, no station is not critical on the above lines. It will also link the Idukki district of Kerala to the Indian Railway Map. The stations enrooted are Kaladi, Perumbavoor, Odakkali, Kothamangalam, Muvattupuzha, Vazhakulam, Thodupuzha, Karimkunnam, Ramapuram, Bharananganam for Pala, Chemmalamattom, Kanjirappally Road & Erumeli for Sabarimala. The road traffic in this sector has almost reached a saturation point resulting in excessive delays and unpredictable roadblocks, which has adversely affected travel in this sector, which badly needs a public transport system to alleviate the road travel hazards.

PROJECT UPDATE

 Government of Kerala vide GO. No1/2021 Trans Dt 07.01.2021 has conveyed the willingness to share 50% project cost.

 Railway Board has advised the Joint Venture Company, Keral Rail Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL), to revise the detailed estimate and prepare the DPR.

 Keral Rail Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL) has submitted the revised estimate of the Angamaly – Sabari Project to Southern Railway on 21.03.2022 for an estimated value of Rs.3454 crores.

 Consequently, DPR has been prepared and submitted to Southern Railway on 18.06.2022.

 The General Manager of Southern Railway has accorded approval to process the detailed estimate and DPR for sanction of the Railway Board and forwarded the same to Railway Board on 21.07.2022.

 The portion of the project from Angamali to Kaladi for a length of 8 km had already been 99% completed by 2016 but not commissioned. The railway has spent about 264 crores for the project.

 The state government had, earlier, 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 LA activities and close the field offices.

 Railway Board was requested to sanction the revised estimate, restart the project, and provide sufficient funds and permission to proceed with the land acquisition.

A meeting conducted on 14/11/2022 with the higher officials of Prime Minister Gati Shakthi Project, Railway Board, and Krail has decided to update the revised estimate of Sabari railway for Vande Bharat train service.

KRail assured that they would submit the revised estimate of Sabari railway with the Vande Bharat train service facility on 27/11/2022.

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.

Proposed new railway stations in Phase I are Angamaly (Railway Station already exists), Kalady, Perumbavoor, Odakkali, Kothamangalam, Muvattupuzha, Vazhakulam, Thodupuzha, Karimkunnam, Ramapuram, Bharananganam for Pala, Chemmalamattam, Kanjirappally Road and Erumeli.

Phase II railway stations of Sabari railway are Ranni, Pathanamthitta, Konni, Koodal, Pathanapuram and will be connected to Punalur and join Kollam–Punalur-Sengottai railway line. Since it provides a railway facility to Sabarimala pilgrims and the number of pilgrims visiting the Sabarimala temple is more than the total population of Kerala, this railway line was named Sabari Railway. [1]

Geographic data related to Sabarimala Railway at OpenStreetMap