Passengers criticise closure of Sabari project office

Thiruvananthapuram: The Railway's decision to shut down the office of the Sabari project at Muvattupuzha has come under severe criticism from railway passengers. All-Kerala Railway Passengers' Association President Mathew Paul told Deccan Chronicle that it was very "unfortunate" that only 8 km of railway line between Angamaly and Kalady was laid for the project in 18 years.

The future of the Sabari railway project has become uncertain as the Centre had sanctioned only Rs 5 crore for the project in the present railway budget. The railways shut down the office at Muvattupuzha following the lack of interest shown by the state in the project.

This was despite that fact that the Railways had spent around Rs 130 crore for various projects. However, the State could acquire only 24.4 hectare of land in Ernakulam district for the project.  But railway officials wanted 470.77 hectare of land to be acquired for the project.

Many view the Sabari railway line as the most important new railway project in Kerala. It will provide new railway stations in five more municipalities namely Pala, Thodupuzha, Muvattupuzha, Kothamangalam, Perumbavoor and Angamali in the first phase and 11 more small towns of Kerala state from Angamali to Erumeli. When the project is extended up to Punaloor in the second phase, seven more towns in midland areas will get railway stations.