Sabari rail: govt. steps rekindle hopes among people along proposed corridor

After years of uncertainty, recent steps by the Central and State governments on the Angamaly-Sabari rail project have rekindled hopes among people along the proposed corridor, despite a section of them sharing fears triggered by bitter experience from the past.

Officials claimed that the project, which remained stalled for over 25 years due to multiple hurdles, had entered the right track, with the State government announcing that it would bear 50% of the cost, including land acquisition expenses, and the Railway Ministry de-freezing the project.

Thousands of families, whose land parcels remain earmarked for the 110-km railway line covering parts of Ernakulam, Idukki and Kottayam districts, hope that with the latest steps their land will be acquired by the government, and that they will be paid due compensation without further delay.

“Unlike earlier, I’m a bit hopeful now,” M.P. Viswanathan Nair, an ex-NRI with an earmarked property in Okkal panchayat, said. He said that the Central and State governments coming together for the project had increased his confidence. He added that he had not been able to sell or mortgage his land ever since it was earmarked for the project. “Those around me who share my fate are also by and large hopeful now, though there are doubts over how much progress will be made before the Assembly elections,” he said.

Salim N.A. of Okkal shared the sentiments. “I’m hopeful too, but I will become confident only once the land acquisition offices are opened,” he said.

Sivan Kizhakkekara from Muvattupuzha, however, sounded pessimistic, though. He termed the latest developments an election stunt. He said even if land acquisition works resumed, he would demand compensation for the physical and mental agony caused by the 25-year delay.

Meanwhile, the Sabari Rail Central Action Council demanded speedy action to acquire land for the project and pay compensation to the affected landowners.

A total of 152 hectares will have to be acquired for the project in Ernakulam as per the revised land acquisition proposal, district officials said. They added that the procedures for land acquisition would resume once the Revenue department issued a notification, which was expected within a week.

The district authorities have also submitted proposals to open two more land acquisition offices, besides the existing one with bare minimum facilities. A total of 55 posts have been proposed for the three offices, officials said.