The 117-km Angamali-Sabari rail link is still in its first phase five years after it was proposed.
While Indian Railways blames the State government for the slowdown of the project that aims to link Sabarimala with the rest of the country via rail, the ground reality is the central department is dragging its feet.
It says laying tracks till Sabarimala is not viable as the Rs 550-crore project would be beneficial only during the pilgrim season. The department says the project will work only if tracks are extended till Thiruvananthapuram and wants the State to bear 50% of the cost.
Railways’ lack of interest is evident from the fact that it has so far sanctioned only Rs 30 crore for the first phase of land acquisition, while the government needs Rs 189.57 crore.
Sabari Rail: No talk of funds for Phase II
The first phase of the 117-km Angamali-Sabari rail link will cover Angamali, Nedumbassery, Mattoor, Vadakkumbagam, Chelamattom, Koovappady, Perumbavoor, Vengoor West, Asamannoor and Rayamangalam villages under Aluva and Kunnathunadu.
The department is yet to consider allotting funds for the second phase that will cover seven villages in Muvattupuzha and Kunnathunadu.
An official said: “There is not much support from the Railways on the Sabari project. Doubling of tracks from Ernakulam to Kottayam and Ernakulam to Alleppey is almost over, but the Sabari project is still in its first phase.”