The long-pending Sabari railway project has received a fresh push after the Union Railway Ministry initiated steps to examine the feasibility of a cargo terminal at the proposed Thodupuzha railway station in Kerala.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Idukki MP Dean Kuriakose that the matter relating to land acquisition for the proposed facility has been forwarded for "official examination".

The development follows sustained representations made by local organisations and trade bodies seeking freight infrastructure along the proposed rail corridor.

Several groups, including the Sabari Railway Central Action Council (SRCAC), Kerala Pineapple Growers Association and Karshaka Vedi, had jointly submitted memorandums through Union Minister George Kurien and the Idukki MP, urging the Centre to include a dedicated cargo handling facility in the project.

The proposed terminal is expected to support roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) train services, allowing trucks carrying agricultural produce and industrial goods to be transported directly by rail.

The current alignment of the Sabari rail project does not include a cargo terminal, while restrictions on private land acquisition near the proposed station site have complicated planning efforts.

Railway authorities are therefore considering a public-private partnership model for the facility.

Separately, discussions are also progressing on the proposed Munnar ropeway project under the Centre's Parvath Mala scheme.