Question : Rail Link to Sabarimala

(a) whether the prospects of Sabarimala making it to the railway map of the country in the near future are getting dim with several hurdles coming in the way of the two decades old proposal;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Sabarimala rail link faces land acquisition hurdles; and
(d) if so, the steps taken by the railways to remove all these hurdles for an early implementation of this decades old proposal which will benefit crores of devotees visiting Sabarimala shrine of Lord Ayyappa?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) to (d): Angamali-Sabarimala new line project was sanctioned to link Sabarimala shrine of Lord Ayyappa. However, in view of the recommendations of the State Government and Estimates Committee (2001-04) of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, it has been decided to terminate the project at Azutha, short of Reserve Forest Area. On this project, track linking on Angamali-Kaladi section (7 Km) has been completed. Earthwork and bridge works have been taken up in Kaladi-Perumbavoor section (11 Km). Beyond Perumbavoor, alignment has been fixed and preparation of estimate & plans have been taken up. Government of Kerala has also consented to share 50% of the project cost.
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