Madikeri: The Centre has granted Rs. 1,000 crore for the 87.2-km Mysuru-Belagola-Kushalnagar Railway line that is expected to cost Rs. 1,854.62 crore. The allocation has been made in the Union Budget 2022-2023. The cost factor has been estimated in a survey that was conducted in 2019.
If implemented, Kodagu will be placed in India’s Railway map and will facilitate the movement of people from Mysuru, Hunsur, Periyapatna and Bylakuppe. The land acquisition process is expected to begin soon for this project that was green-lighted and funds were allocated in the Railways’ Pink Book in 2019.
Pink Book is a document that catalogues all the transactions made and contains relevant information on the distribution of funds for future initiatives. The approval for the project came when Piyush Goyal was the Railway Minister and now Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has allocated Rs. 1,000 crore for the same.
The Railway line will actually begin from Belagola in Srirangapatna taluk of Mandya district and end at Koppa near Kushalnagar in Kodagu district. It will pass through Yelwal, Bilikere, Uddur, Hunsur, Sathegala, Periyapatna, Doddahonnur to reach Koppa village.
It may be mentioned here that in August 2021, the South Western Railways had awarded the tender for final location survey to a Bengaluru-based company at a cost of Rs. 1.26 crore.
The project was originally mooted till Madikeri over 100 years ago and in recent times found mention in 2011 (UPA era). It was shelved after a survey commissioned by the Railways deemed the route to be unprofitable. The project, however, is being rejuvenated now, much to the chagrin of environmentalists who have opposed the project saying that the line will obstruct the natural flow of River Cauvery.
High Court ruling: Under pressure from Green activists and realising that the project will cause a disaster, the Forest Department did not give permission for a survey from Kushalnagar to Madikeri though the Railway authorities have completed the survey till Kushalnagar.
Environment activists argue that once the line comes to Kushalnagar, it is easy for the Railways to extend the same to Madikeri and then to Mangaluru and Kerala cutting through forests that are known for its eco-sensitivity and biodiversity.
Activists had even approached the Karnataka High Court and filed a Public Interest Litigation, hearing which the Court directed the Indian Railways to obtain environmental clearances before commissioning the Railway line.
The Court noted that the Railways cannot go ahead with the project in the absence of forest and wildlife clearances. Further, the Court directed the Railways to notify the petitioners while applying for clearances.
If the Railways go ahead with the railway line from Kushalnagar to Madikeri, its a disaster waiting to happen. During the previous monsoons there have been extensive landslides and flooding. Further, the ecologically sensitive areas in the Western Ghats will also be affected. People of Mysore and Coorg together must fight against this disasterous misadventure by the Railways/govt and take this matter tothe court. Bad enough, leaving the already existing SH between Mysore and Madikeri, the govt is going ahead with another 4 lane SH, between Srirangapatna and Madikeri, in the process, aquiring more fertile agriculture land. This is rediculous and shows the insensitivity of the govt towards the protection of the Western Ghats.
Govt should abandon this as 4 lane road project already proposed. Leave coorg alone. Do not destroy it.
Indian environmentalists are more concerned about welfare of cats dogs wild animals and forests than welfare of indian people.they oppose every infrastructure projects .how can indian people prosper without infrastructure and economic activity. Is it conspiracy against Indian people?. this project should go ahead.
If someone gives us the guarantee that the rains which caused major damages in the year 2018 will not happen again, The most fragile land from kushalnahar to Madikeri should be left out with out disturbing them.
Once rail way line laid up to Kushalanagar, these politicians will think of extending this up to Madikeri and then up to Mangalore. This will be disastrous to fragile western that’s ecology. Mysore to Kushalnagar is hardly journey of less than 2 hours. The railway will be of no use to commuters. It iOS better to drop this project.
Once rail way line laid up to Kushalanagar, these politicians will think of extending this up to Madikeri and then up to Mangalore. This will be disastrous to fragile western that’s ecology. Mysore to Kushalnagar is hardly journey of less than 2 hours. The railway will be of no use to commuters. It iOS better to drop this project.
This line is only till kushalnagar not till Madikeri. Its not passing through western ghats forests yet. People who have no knowledge of environment are getting spooked. A railway line cannot destroy environment. It wont occupy 0.1% of the area. How can it affect.
It’s shocking to see that a person of education and a person of doctrate title doesn’t not understand the importance of natural balance.
You think it is a joke to put infrastructure and finance over the importance of natural balance. Go tell this to the people of Coorg who have lost their infrastructure/roof and finance due to such ignorance. Before you question my integrity, yes I am from Coorg and the natives here do not need a railway line for our transport. Are you conspiring against Indians by giving importance to money over life ? Or are you just one among the several so called Indians ,who just does not care about the nation as long as your future is secure and so as to satisfy your ego is too hard headed to step into another man’s shoe.
True…This line will only cover till Kushalnagar and not till Madikeri.
And the forest are not destroyed anywhere here.
Definitely people of Kushalnagar and Periyapattana will benefit from this.