The preliminary survey work for a new broad gauge line between Mysore-Kushalnagar-Madikere (110 km) will commence from Kushalnagar on Saturday.
Minister of State for Railways K.H. Muniyappa will unveil the plaque to inaugurate the survey works at 12.15 p.m.
Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly K.G. Bopaiah, Mysore MP, A.H. Vishwanath, Minister for Medical Education S.A. Ramdas, M.C. Nananiah, MLC, and other elected representatives from Mysore and Kodagu will be present.
Mr. Muniyappa will also inaugurate the India Post Passenger Reservation Centre at Kushalnagar town post office the same day.
The new Railway line survey works between Mysore-Kushalnagar-Madikeri was sanctioned almost two years ago and was proposed in the Railway Budget 2010-11.
The project is a long-pending demand of the people of Kodagu and surrounding regions as the district is not on the Railway map of the country and rail connectivity can shore up its fortunes.
But the gestation period for a railway project — from commencement of the survey work to the actual completion of the project and introduction of train services — takes decades if one goes by railway history and experience.
Sources in the Railways pointed out that a survey is generally the first step in the long chain of mandatory procedures that are followed. The survey is expected to take about 24 months at a conservative estimate if not more.
A commercial viability assessment and study will follow, after which a final location survey is taken up to ascertain the curves and alignment of the proposed track.
Any project above Rs. 150 crore will have to be approved by the Planning Commission, after which other issues related to land acquisition, environmental clearance etc. will come into picture.
It is pertinent to note that the Mysore-Madikere Railway line was mooted in 1881-82 as per the information in the Mysore Gazetteer published by the State Government.
An alternative route connecting Mysore and Madikere via K.R. Nagar-Bettadapura-Kushanlagar was also proposed in the 1950s, none of which materialised.
Minister of State for Railways K.H. Muniyappa will unveil the plaque to inaugurate the survey works at 12.15 p.m.
Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly K.G. Bopaiah, Mysore MP, A.H. Vishwanath, Minister for Medical Education S.A. Ramdas, M.C. Nananiah, MLC, and other elected representatives from Mysore and Kodagu will be present.
Mr. Muniyappa will also inaugurate the India Post Passenger Reservation Centre at Kushalnagar town post office the same day.
The new Railway line survey works between Mysore-Kushalnagar-Madikeri was sanctioned almost two years ago and was proposed in the Railway Budget 2010-11.
The project is a long-pending demand of the people of Kodagu and surrounding regions as the district is not on the Railway map of the country and rail connectivity can shore up its fortunes.
But the gestation period for a railway project — from commencement of the survey work to the actual completion of the project and introduction of train services — takes decades if one goes by railway history and experience.
Sources in the Railways pointed out that a survey is generally the first step in the long chain of mandatory procedures that are followed. The survey is expected to take about 24 months at a conservative estimate if not more.
A commercial viability assessment and study will follow, after which a final location survey is taken up to ascertain the curves and alignment of the proposed track.
Any project above Rs. 150 crore will have to be approved by the Planning Commission, after which other issues related to land acquisition, environmental clearance etc. will come into picture.
It is pertinent to note that the Mysore-Madikere Railway line was mooted in 1881-82 as per the information in the Mysore Gazetteer published by the State Government.
An alternative route connecting Mysore and Madikere via K.R. Nagar-Bettadapura-Kushanlagar was also proposed in the 1950s, none of which materialised.
