State’s longest Railway tunnel: From Kanakapura to Salem approved
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State’s longest Railway tunnel: From Kanakapura to Salem approved

September 10, 2022

Tunnel through Bandipur, Nagarahole Tiger Reserves will not be permitted: Somanna 

Bengaluru: Karnataka has approved the construction of the State’s longest Railway tunnel that will be a part of the Kanakapura-Salem Railway route. The survey of the line has already begun, said Housing and Infrastructure Development Minister V. Somanna.

 The line will link Kanakapura, Malavalli, Kollegal, Yelandur, Erode and Salem and the decision on constructing a 9-km tunnel was taken to safeguard the forests and biodiversity, the Minister told reporters in Bengaluru yesterday.

The tunnel will pass under the forests and it will not disturb the wildlife and flora. Modern technology will be used in the construction of the tunnel like the ones that have been drilled for Bengaluru Metro.

“This is a conscious decision taken to protect the wildlife and ecology. After the route is commissioned, the travellers between Kanakapura and Salem will travel 62 kilometres less on the route,” Somanna said.

The Minister clarified that Karnataka will not permit the construction of a 22-km tunnel either below the Bandipur Tiger Reserve or the Nagarahole National Park for Kerala to construct Railway lines linking Thalassery and Mysuru or Chamarajanagar.

 “Citing an adverse report from Forest Department, the Karnataka Government has already stalled the ambitious proposal of the Kerala Government to develop the Thalassery- Wayanad-Mysuru rail line. Digging a 22-km-long tunnel under the core area of the Tiger Reserves is not advisable,” Somanna added.

When reporters asked about the pressure tactics by the Kerala Government and the willingness of the Centre to accord permission to the controversial Railway line, Somanna said, “There is no question of approving this ecologically damaging project. We will not bow to any pressure.”

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“We have pointed out that the Rs. 5,000 crore project involving the construction of a lengthy tunnel across the Kabini River to save wildlife tracts of Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandipur Tiger Reserve and Nagarahole National Park was not feasible. Even if the rail line is constructed through underground tunnels, it can affect the water recharge underneath the earth, thereby causing severe ecological imbalance to the habitat system,” Somanna explained.

22 COMMENTS ON THIS POST To “State’s longest Railway tunnel: From Kanakapura to Salem approved”

  1. Ashiya rahman says:

    Respected infrastructure minister please I request you to repair the roads and areas which are affected by the heavy rains in IT City Bangalore it’s a humble request to you sir🙏🙏🙏🙏

  2. Why to touch forest or river whye cant we develop out side this limits it take few km more for the sake of development we have lost lot of jungles or greenier in city or village

  3. Very says:

    BETTER LATE THAN NEVER. THIS WILL AVOID ALL HASSLES OF GLOBAL WARMING,LANDSLIDES AND OBSTRUCTION TO WILD LIFE MOVEMENTS. VERY GOOD APPROACH.

  4. Whatever The honourable minister,
    This is not the right way to protect the forests,
    Kindly restructure your departmental plans with some other area

  5. Mysore Maharaja says:

    Why the cheap attention seeking headline? Such sorry state of journalism! The 9KM proposed tunnel is deliberately glorified in the headline so you can get more clicks? Your sub-editors need to be sacked! Please have some ethics!

  6. Sudhir says:

    Why does Karnataka government not think seriously to link all major towns and cities within Karnataka. Rail and road network should be strong and connected within the state.
    All infrastructure development is towards Andhra, Tamil Nadu and to some extent to Maharashtra.
    Link Belgaum, Mysore, Hubli, Hassan, Hospet etc. To Bangalore by rail and express ways.

  7. Kamal says:

    BJP is Full Scam Me Modi is appointing all Correpect Politician Like Yedurappa Who is More than 10000 Crore

  8. Howdy, Modi! says:

    You Mysoreans are really dimwitted morons. Infosys Murthy becoming very rich means every one wants to learn IT and earn more money by doing the IT techie cheap work outsourced by Western companies.
    The high school curriculum has changed. students these days thump keys ,do program codes, but otherwise, no knowledge of Mysore history.
    In our days, the project described in this article , particularly tunnelling to link Tamil Nadu- really, a project proposed in the British period was discussed in the class in the subject of transport links from Mysore to other states. That project never took off the ground although there was approval by the centre government.
    This is a good idea, it becomes a reality.
    BTW, I spent decades in the IT industries in the West, and also know about Mysore , and Indian history. Those were the days, we had good grounding in all subjects.
    As for you posters, keep posting the nonsene you areposting.

  9. Howdy, Modi! says:

    correction: nonsense.

  10. Chamanlal Maneklal Ghia says:

    Narendra Modi knows , he has to have substantial MPs from Kerala and Tamil Nadu,
    Hence, he will ignore the BJP government of Karnataka-he knows caterpillar moustached Lingayat CM Bommai is weak,and he will obey whatever he says. Hence, Narendra Modi will approve this “permit the construction of a 22-km tunnel either below the Bandipur Tiger Reserve or the Nagarahole National Park for Kerala to construct Railway lines linking Thalassery and Mysuru or Chamarajanagar”. That much is sure.
    Narendra Modi also promised the UAE-Mysore direct flight, when the Mysore airport gets expanded to receive the Airbus 320/Boeing 37 medium haul passenger route, when he met Malaylee businessmen in the UAE a few months ago. They promised Modi that they will develop Mysore further with this Doha-Mysore direct non-stop flight. Kerala government pressurised Modi to agree to this.
    Modi is such an idiot that he failed to understand who these Malayalee businessmen are-they operate the gold smuggling clandestinely and want to expand this business to Mysore city. They already have a thriving Hawala channel money operations in the Wayanad-Nanjangud-Mysore corridor, recruiting armed criminal to enforce their operations.
    Tamil Nadu government is also pressurising Modi to start the long tunnel project to Salem mentioned in the news in the SOM. This will bring massive numbers of Tamil to settle in greater Mysore.
    Start learning Malayalam and Tamil , Mysoreans. When your MP Simha completes his Hassan-Kerala highway, you knw how your Karnataka government surrendered to Kerala and Tamil Nadu governments.
    I have moved my business from Mysore. It has become a very congested city like Bangalore. It is expanding fast.

  11. Pk says:

    On the roads only life is not safe …under ground…sir is it joke?

  12. Sanjay says:

    Excellent planning. Please get the project started soon.

  13. Swetha says:

    Govt doesn’t hv any work other than scratching & disturbing the nature?
    1st construct town & village roads of India without potholes then dream of India to bcme like a foreign country !

  14. Shantala says:

    @Swetha
    Your PM Modi cares more for Kerala and Tamil Nadu, as he does not have that many MPs there. Hence this tunnel under the plan suggested by the Kerala government will ahead.

  15. Krishnan Kutty Nair says:

    Here in Kerala, the Kerala government is enthusiastic that their suggestion of tunnel will be approved by PM Modi, not the Karnataka version.
    As suggested Modi wants Keralite businessmen to set up industries in Mysore., because as sad, he wants the BJP to be more popular in Kerala. Simiarly, he will support the Mekedatu plan suggested by the Tamil Nadu government, as Modi wants BJP to be popular in Tamil Nau.
    If you want to blame some one blame your CM Bommai, who is dull and inefficient and his predecessor Yeddiyurappa who often sounds like a blithering idiot.

  16. Krishnan Kutty Nair says:

    Here in Kerala, the Kerala government is enthusiastic that their suggestion of tunnel will be approved by PM Modi, not the Karnataka version.
    As suggested Modi wants Keralite businessmen to set up industries in Mysore., because as sad, he wants the BJP to be more popular in Kerala. Simiarly, he will support the Mekedatu plan suggested by the Tamil Nadu government, as Modi wants BJP to be popular in Tamil Nau.
    If you want to blame some one blame your CM Bommai, who is dull and inefficient and his predecessor Yeddiyurappa who often sounds like a blithering idiot.

  17. Gundappa srinivas says:

    Mad lunatic idiotic governments destroying fragile ecology Agricultural farming Plantation Mango jackfruit spices coconut fodder grasslands forests for demonic devilish infrastructure projects, please u politicians policymakers if u have common sense stop this Hitlerism

  18. Anil says:

    To construct a Tunnel under the forest for Railway line is a blunder and waste of money as well it will lead to catastrophic problems for the environment. The public in general are more accustomed to Road journey which is faster and more pleasant. These projects should have been initiated 30 to 50 years back when roads were not available and the vehicles were running slowly

  19. M says:

    Can’t even understand basics of how adversely a railway line under bandipur tiger reserve affects the ecology. So liberal and forward in front of western world, but this what Kerala politicians demand here. Shameful. People of Kerala with commonsense should tell their government to shelve this project.

  20. Sapna says:

    Donot touch WIDLIIFE
    PLS GIVE HOMES TO THOSE WHONLOST DURING FLOODS

  21. Appukuttan says:

    @Gundappa, Anil, M and Sapna
    I suggest you blame Narendra Modi, the PM yielding to the Kerala government to agree to this tunnel under the forst and wild animal sanctuary.
    Ialso suggest you blame your \CM Bommai, for being such a fool not opposing this project as he does not want to oppose his leader Modi.
    Kerala government, I understand has succeeded in getting Modi’s approval for this short tunnel, and ensuring that the above minister’s alternative suggestion is rejected by Modi.
    You see Modi takes for granted Bommai the CM., who fears Congress government otherwise.
    Modi always rewards states ruled by opposition parties, as he is interested that they do not oppose him. Kerala government does not oppose Modi, so is Tamil Nadu Government.
    This Kerala government version of the tunnel under the forest and wild animals habitat will go ahead.. What a weak CM you have !!

  22. Raj says:

    This is not good idea, it would be haphazard work to TN ecology and hill underwater pattern.
    They want movement of people and goods to Karnataka and back.
    But it is a bad proposal to destroy forests.

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