Authorities decide to commence land acquisition for Sabari rail

Bringing renewed hope to more than 2,000 families across central Travancore whose properties have been marked for the long-pending Sabari rail project, the Revenue department has decided to resume land acquisition for the project.

Official sources said an online high-level meeting convened by the State government on Wednesday has directed the District Collectors of Ernakulam, Idukki and Kottayam to proceed with acquiring the required land. As part of this renewed effort, the previously functional land acquisition offices at Perumbavoor and Pala will be reopened, while new offices are slated to be established in Muvattupuzha and Kanjirappally.

“Work on the project is expected to formally begin with the visit of a high-level team from the Indian Railways early next month,” sources said. The meeting also decided to retain the existing alignment of the rail line. The project is being planned in such a way that land acquisition and construction can proceed simultaneously.

24.4 hectares acquired

So far, 24.4 hectares of land have been acquired for the project in the Angamaly–Kalady stretch. However, more than 200 hectares still need to be acquired across the three districts.

In the first phase, land will be acquired from Kalady to Ramapuram. The second phase, covering the stretch from Ramapuram to Erumely, will follow completion of alignment surveys and a Social Impact Assessment (SIA).

“A special revenue team will be deployed for this purpose,” the sources added.

As the initial notification for acquiring land for the project was issued prior to the introduction of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act in 2013, the government will have to restart the entire process in accordance with the new legislation. According to officials, a new government order (GO) for the land acquisition will be issued shortly to commence the proceedings.

CM’s meet

The approval for the construction of the rail line connecting Angamaly and Erumely, the gateway to Sabarimala was announced after a meeting held between Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in New Delhi recently. The 111.48-km line was proposed in the 1997-98 Budget.