Though the Sabari rail project is yet to see the light of the day, the Railway officials in the state hope to commission the Angamaly-Kalady stretch by next April.
According to Dani Thomas, Chief Administrative Officer, Kerala, the Railway Board, at a meeting held last week asked the officials to complete all rail-related works between Angamaly and Kalady. “We have nearly finished the land acquisition in the area. Railway lines will be placed along the eight-km stretch. With the estimated `15 crore, we expect to commission the line soon,” Thomas said.
Though Union Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa had stated last year that the Angamaly-Kalady stretch would be commissioned in 2012, the paucity of funds forced the Railways to halt the project for a while.
Meanwhile, other officials with the Railways said that there is pressure from various sides to cancel plan to set up a railway station at Kalady. However, Dani Thomas denied this.
He added that if there were any funds left over, a bit of land acquisition in the Kalady-Perumbavoor region could be initiated. “It will be possible to start land acquisition work in this area only next year,” said Thomas.
Presently, payment is also due despite the surveys being completed along the Kalady-Perumbavoor stretch.
The Railway Board had revised the estimate of the Angamaly-Sabarimala Railway Project from `1,234 crore to `1,566 crore.
Meanwhile, the Railway Board is remaining adamant in its decision that the state government should fund half of the project. “The state government has not yet shown any interest in funding the project especially because of the huge investment involved. Land acquisition will always remain a big problem in Kerala. The Railways has no reason to continue the project because it is not beneficial.
“However, considering the potential benefits to the residents of Muvattapuzha, Thodupuzha and Pala, the Railways has not cancelled the project,” he said.The railways has drastically changed the alignment of the Sabari Rail Project, opting to draw the line till Erumely instead of Azhutha.
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