Title - Sabarimala development authority sought

The Kerala Congress has called upon the Union and the State governments to form a development authority for Sabarimala without further delay.In a statement here on Monday, P.C. Thomas, party chairman, and Jerry Easow Oommen, president of its district unit, warned the Union government of serious consequences if it went ahead with the proposal to restrict the flow of pilgrims to the Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala.They said the governments should set up a Tirupati-model development authority for Sabarimala.Mr. Thomas said Railways should develop the Thiruvalla railway station as a gateway to Sabarimala and allow stops for all trains there.Mr. Oommen alleged that Railways had been meting out a step-motherly treatment to Thiruvalla, the only railway station in Pathanamthitta district, where Sabarimala was located.Mr. Thomas said the Union government should bear the full cost of the Sabari rail project.He stressed the need to explore the possibility of a new railway line between Angamaly and Thiruvananthapuram, via Erumely, Ranni, Pathanamthitta, Konni, Punalur and Nedumangad, for the development of the hill regions.