Railways Clears Survey for Theni–Erumeli Rail Link Connecting Tamil Nadu, Kerala.

The proposed railway line connecting Theni in Tamil Nadu with Erumeli in Kerala, the gateway to Sabarimala, has moved a step closer to reality after the Railways approved a survey for the 95-km broad-gauge route.

The approval follows a tender floated last year to assess the feasibility of establishing a direct rail link between Theni and Erumeli.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed the sanction in Parliament in response to questions raised by MPs P Ganapathy Rajkumar and Thanga Tamilselvan.

The survey will form the basis for preparing a detailed project report. The proposal will subsequently require further appraisal, including consultations with the state governments and clearances from NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Finance. No timeline has been fixed for construction of the line.

If approved for execution, the proposed railway would provide Theni district with direct rail connectivity towards Sabarimala and reduce dependence on road transport for pilgrims travelling to Kerala. At present, passengers from Theni and surrounding areas largely travel by road through Cumbum and Kumily towards Erumeli and Pamba, as there is no direct railway connection along the corridor.

“The Railways Ministry should take steps to provide a railway connection towards Sabarimala. It will help devotees as well as regular passengers from Theni district,” said Dharmendiran, a schoolteacher from Uthamapalayam who had earlier raised the demand.

Theni’s rail connectivity was restored following the completion of the Madurai-Bodinayakanur gauge-conversion project. The 90-km corridor, built at a cost of around ₹593 crore, brought passenger train services back to the district.

The proposed Theni-Erumeli line would extend the existing rail network westwards from Theni towards Kerala, potentially improving connectivity between southern Tamil Nadu and the Sabarimala pilgrimage region.