Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw voiced strong criticism against the Kerala government, accusing it of insufficient cooperation on railway projects. During a discussion in the Lok Sabha, Vaishnaw emphasised that significant progress could be made in Kerala if the state government provided the necessary support. His comments were reported by news agency PTI.
Remarks on Angamaly-Sabarimala Railway Line
Ashwini Vaishnaw made these remarks while addressing a supplementary question about the long-pending Angamaly-Sabarimala railway line project, which was first sanctioned in 1997-98. He responded to Congress member Adoor Prakash’s inquiry by stating, “The Kerala government has not been very cooperative on railway projects. I urge MPs to use their influence to facilitate land acquisition, as projects can only advance with state support.”
Need for State Cooperation
Regarding the Angamaly-Sabarimala project, Ashwini Vaishnaw noted that it is complex and requires state government cooperation to progress. He mentioned that a new alignment from Chengannur to Pamba, which is approximately 75 km long and 4 km closer to the shrine, is being considered. The decision on whether to proceed with the old or new alignment will depend on discussions with MPs and the state government.
Project Delays and Issues
Ashwini Vaishnaw also highlighted that delays in the project have been due to local protests against land acquisition, court cases, and inadequate support from the Kerala government. He mentioned that a detailed assessment of the new alignment is underway and a final decision will be made once this is complete.
Fund Allocation and Future Plans
The minister noted that funding for railways in Kerala has significantly increased since 2014, with an average outlay of ₹2,033 crore for 2023-24, compared to ₹372 crore annually between 2009-14. Ashwini Vaishnaw also clarified that there are no current plans to extend the Angamaly-Sabarimala line to Vizhinjam International Seaport, as the nearest railhead to the port is Nemom.
