Railways Follow Up Land Acquisition for Angamali Sabarimala Line

12 Feb 2026 CW Team

The estimate for the Angamali–Sabarimala via Erumeli project was updated at Rs 38.01 billion (bn) and submitted to the Government of Kerala for acceptance and willingness to share the cost. The Railways requested unconditional consent and urged the State to acquire land using its 50 per cent share so that work can proceed. Following the request, the State has initiated land acquisition proceedings and the Ministry is following up to facilitate progress.

Tirur in Kerala is presently served by 90 train services, including the 20631/20632 Mangaluru Central–Thiruvananthapuram Central Vande Bharat Express, and additional stoppages have been provided to enhance connectivity. Stoppage of the 22475/22476 Hisar–Coimbatore Express has been provided at Tirur with effect from 28 January 2026 and the 16329/16330 Nagercoil–Mangaluru Junction Amrit Bharat Express was introduced with effect from 27 January 2026. The provision of stoppages depends on traffic justification, operational feasibility including availability of extra time and matching infrastructure such as platform length.

Budget allocation for infrastructure and safety works falling fully or partly in Kerala has risen markedly, from Rs 3.72 bn per year in 2009–14 to Rs 30.42 bn in 2025–26, which represents more than eight times increase. The former amount corresponds to Rs 3.72 bn per year and the latter corresponds to Rs 30.42 bn. Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, 1,337 stations have been identified for development and works have been completed at 172 stations to date, the Minister informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

The Ministry of Railways said it is following up land acquisition proceedings initiated by the Government of Kerala for the Angamali–Sabarimala new line project, which had been kept under abeyance in September 2019. The project was sanctioned in 1997–98 on a 50:50 cost sharing basis and preliminary works on the Angamali–Kaladi and Kaladi–Perumbavoor sections were undertaken before progress halted amid protests over land acquisition, alignment disputes and legal cases. Survey work on an alternative Chengannur–Pamba alignment was carried out but was found not feasible. The estimate for the Angamali–Sabarimala via Erumeli project was updated at Rs 38.01 billion (bn) and submitted to the Government of Kerala for acceptance and willingness to share the cost. The Railways requested unconditional consent and urged the State to acquire land using its 50 per cent share so that work can proceed. Following the request, the State has initiated land acquisition proceedings and the Ministry is following up to facilitate progress. Tirur in Kerala is presently served by 90 train services, including the 20631/20632 Mangaluru Central–Thiruvananthapuram Central Vande Bharat Express, and additional stoppages have been provided to enhance connectivity. Stoppage of the 22475/22476 Hisar–Coimbatore Express has been provided at Tirur with effect from 28 January 2026 and the 16329/16330 Nagercoil–Mangaluru Junction Amrit Bharat Express was introduced with effect from 27 January 2026. The provision of stoppages depends on traffic justification, operational feasibility including availability of extra time and matching infrastructure such as platform length. Budget allocation for infrastructure and safety works falling fully or partly in Kerala has risen markedly, from Rs 3.72 bn per year in 2009–14 to Rs 30.42 bn in 2025–26, which represents more than eight times increase. The former amount corresponds to Rs 3.72 bn per year and the latter corresponds to Rs 30.42 bn. Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, 1,337 stations have been identified for development and works have been completed at 172 stations to date, the Minister informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

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