Land acquisition for railway projects is going on at a snail’s pace in Kerala

Implementation of many key approved rail infrastructure projects, both fully and partially located in the state, has been delayed due to delays in land acquisition. | Photo credit: Getty Images

Even as the Kerala government is making sincere efforts to attract investors to Kerala by rolling out the red carpet and offering land at key strategic locations, including Vizhinjam, the state’s railway infrastructure continues to move at a snail’s pace due to severe delays in land acquisition.

According to a reply in Parliament, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that although several infrastructure projects have been initiated in Kerala to increase the capacity of the existing railway network, including field surveys and preparation of detailed project reports (DPRs) for laying the third and fourth railway lines parallel to the existing double-track tracks in key stretches, implementation of many key approved infrastructure projects, both fully and partially, have been put on hold due to land acquisition in the state.

Railways require a total of 618 hectares of land in Kerala for implementation of various projects, including the recently revived Sabari railway project. However, the state has so far acquired only 78 hectares (13% of the total requirement), while the remaining 540 hectares (87%) remain to be acquired, slowing down the development of the state’s railway infrastructure.

For example, the nearly three-decade-old Angamali-Sabarimala railway project (111 km), which was recently reactivated after the state government agreed to bear 50% of the project cost under a 50:50 cost-sharing arrangement, requires a total of 304 hectares of land. However, only 25 hectares have been acquired in the initial phase of the project, while the remaining 279 hectares are yet to be acquired.

Similarly, the Ernakulam–Kumbalam patch doubling project (8 km) requires four hectares of land, of which three hectares have already been acquired and one hectare remains under process. The Kumbalam–Turavur section doubling project (16 km) also requires 10 hectares, of which nine hectares have already been acquired and one hectare is yet to be acquired. The Shoranur–Vallathol (10 km) twinning project, a critical railway corridor in central Kerala, requires five hectares of land. However, not a single hectare has been acquired yet.

According to the railways, the completion of railway projects depends on several factors, including timely acquisition of land by the state government, necessary clearances, shifting of utilities, statutory approvals from various authorities, etc. Delays in any of these aspects affect both the completion schedule and the overall cost of the projects.

Delay of KIIFB projects

According to state government sources, the progress of projects funded by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) is likely to be delayed as the government has appointed a committee to review the existing framework of KIIFB and recommend a comprehensive restructuring plan.

For example, although the Sabari railway project was back on track after the previous government agreed to bear half the cost of the project, the commencement of land acquisition will depend on the new government’s policy decisions and the progress of the proposed KIIFB restructuring.

Kerala had earlier decided to finance its ₹1,900 crore stake in the Sabari rail project through KIIFB. However, officials said work on the remaining rail projects would continue as planned.

Published – 25 Jul 2026 15:59 IST