UDF ignored objections on Sabari line alignment

KOTTAYAM: The change in the alignment of  the Sabari railway line which was decided by the UDF government in 2014 was opposed by the Southern Railway owing to cost escalation  and additional track length involved.  

This was revealed in an RTI reply received by Mr Tony Thengumpally, chairman of  Deepthi action council which is opposing the change in the alignment.  

The reply filed by the under-secretary of the  transport department said that the  chief administrative officer (construction) of the Southern Railway had raised the objection at  a meeting of people’s representatives held on February 11, 2014 to decide on the new alignment. The meeting was  chaired  by the then chief minister Oommen Chandy. 

The railway officer said that the previous alignment with 9-km-long passage through Idukki district  was the best feasible affecting the least number of inhabitants. 

The new alignment in Kottayam district would increase the track length and  cost of construction  at Rs 1 crore per km as per the current estimates. 

The Lok Sabha MPs  from Kottayam and Pathanam-thitta and the Rajya Sabha MP from the district  did not participate  in the meeting which  added  more places, including Anthinadu, Mankara and Vezhanganam in the Bharananganam panchayats,  Keezampara and Deepthi  in  Thalapalam panchayat, Chathanku-lam in Meenachil panchayat and Kappad in Kanjirapally panchayat under the new alignment.

The then water resources minister P.J. Joseph,  Kanjirapally MLA N. Jayaraj and Kaduthuruthy MLA Mons Joseph and  railway officials were  present at  the meeting. 

The Deepthi action council has demanded the cancellation of the new alignment since  the decision was taken in a meeting in which the MPs belonging to the region were absent, Mr Thengumpally said.