Activists want work on Bengaluru- Chamarajanagar rail line to begin

BENGALURU: After the Union Cabinet cleared the much-delayed suburban rail project, activists and passengers are demanding the Centre and state commence work on the 142km new line between Bengaluru and Chamarajanagar via Kanakapura, Malavalli and Kollegal.
While the original plan was to extend the new line from Chamarajanagar to Sathyamangalam in Tamil Nadu (260km), it was scrapped because of the elephant habitat in Sathyamangalam forests.

The Union railway ministry had sanctioned the project at an estimated cost at Rs 297 crore in 1996. However, the TN government and Central Empowered Committee didn’t grant nod for a survey in the forest area. In 2013, the railway board decided to take up the project between Bengaluru and Chamarajanagar at a cost of Rs 1,382 crore. The railways approved it after Karnataka government agreed to give land free of cost and agreed to bear 50% of the project cost. However, it did not take off mainly due to land acquisition issues. The estimated cost meanwhile, increased to around Rs 1,960 crore.
The project is likely to complement the Bengaluru suburban rail project and improve connectivity to Bengaluru Rural. It’s also expected to reduce traffic congestion on Bengaluru-Mysuru road. Pruthvi Reddy, a rail activist, said: “This new line from Bengaluru to Chamarajanagar passes through Kanakapura, Malavalli and Kollegal, taluk headquarters which lack rail connectivity. The project will considerably reduce travel time between Bengaluru and Chamarajanagar. Despite being resanctioned in 2013, it has not made any progress because of less pressure from state politicians. The government should acquire the land without any delay.”
South Western Railway officials said the government is yet to acquire land and hand it over to them. “The project has been kept in abeyance by the railway board as acquisition of 1732.2 acres of land is awaited. The process has been delayed by the Karnataka government,” said SWR chief public relations officer E Vijaya.
Kapil Mohan, principal secretary, infrastructure development department, said: “We are ready to provide land for this line if the railways bears 100% of the construction cost, but they feel the project is not feasible since it goes only till Chamarajanagar.”
SWR sources said the project may be scrapped if the government continuous to delay land acquisition. “The project won’t be viable once the land acquisition cost increases further,” said an SWR source.
Neither rlys nor govt interested
“This project is crucial for Karnataka since it’s an alternative route between Bengaluru and Chamarajanagar without touching Mysuru. This would also boost the economy and tourism in Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Mandya and Chamarajanagar. But neither the railways nor the government has shown interest. While railways is yet to allocate adequate funds, the government is not taking steps to acquire land. Ideally, this line should connect Sathyamangalam and Mettupalayam (Coimbatore). But it won’t happen without the Union environment ministry and Tamil Nadu government nod
- KN Krishna Prasad, member, Karnataka Railway Vedike