Survey on new BG line between Mysore, Madikeri

MYSORE: A preliminary engineering-cum-traffic survey for a new broad gauge line between Mysore-Kushalnagar-Madikeri will begin on December 31. Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa will unveil a plaque to announce the commencement of the survey at Government Model Primary School in Kushalnagar  at 12.15 noon.  The survey on the 110 kilometres railway line was announced by the then Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee in the 2011 railway budget. The new railway line connecting the city of Mysore to the hill town of Madikeri will pass through Hunsur, Periyapatna and Kushalnagar with a major portion of the railway line falling in Mysore district.While it will be a plain surface for about 70 kilometres between Mysore and Kushalnagar, the remaining 40 kilometres between Kushlnagar and Madikeri will be in the midst of hilly forests with sharp curves. Sources said that there is a difference of 180 metres in altitude in the stretch between Kushalnagar and Madikeri and tunnels will need to be dug up for the train to pass. Meanwhile, this is not the first survey being carried out to provide rail connectivity to Madikeri. A similar survey which was carried out more than a decade ago had stated that huge investment was required to create the new facility in the hilly forest and the route would incur losses to the railways. Sources in South Western Railway said that the fresh survey is only preliminary work and the project is yet to get a nod from the Forest Department. A feasibility survey will follow the preliminary survey.