Environmental clearance blocks rail link

The proposed link has to pass through the ghat and forest sections

Environmental clearance may come in the way of a rail link between Kanakapura and Mettupalayam section of the South Western Railway.

The Karnataka government has consented to providing its share of the nearly Rs 650 crore to take up the first phase of the new broad gauge line that runs via Malavalli, Kollegal and Chamarajanagar to meet the long-pending demands of both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for a rail link to Mettupalayam, connecting both the states.

Currently, these regions are connected by road. The passenger and trading communities have been demanding a rail link between Mysore and Mettupalayam, though the current  link is from Kanakapura via the three towns in Karnataka. The link has to pass through the ghat and forest sections.

As the Central Forest & Environment Ministry has not given the clearance beyond Chamarajanagar, any progress in the execution of the second phase could not be assured in the foreseeable future, said Chamarajanagar MP R Dhruvanarayan in Mysore.

He flagged off of the direct train services between Chamarajanagar and Bangalore on Saturday at the Chamarajanagar Railway Station. This is one of the new train services announced in the Railway Budget 2014-15 providing a direct connectivity between Chamarajanagar and Bangalore. He thanked the Railways for fulfilling the aspiration of the people of Chamarajanagar area for a direct train link to the state capital.

Two road overbridges (ROB) would be constructed in the Mysore-Chamarajanagar section on cost-sharing basis. The state government would make a formal announcement shortly, the MP added.

Interacting with the general public at the railway station, Dhruvanarayan said their plea such as augmentation of composition of trains, revision of the train time table, better drinking water facilities at the station, better toilet facilities and lighting, and upgrade of approach roads, etc, would be discussed with the Railway authorities for implementation.

Mysore Divisional Railway Manager Rajkumar Lal lauded the efforts of Dhruvanarayan for initiating various steps for the development of rail infrastructure in Chamarajanagar District like commissioning of goods shed and introduction of new train services, among others.

Rajkumar Lal asked the MP to contribute from the MPLAD fund to take up passenger amenity works such as better approach roads, laying of a dedicated water pipeline for 24x7 municipal water supply to the railway station among others.