After a prolonged wait of 22 months, the dream of the people of Chamarajanagar turned into reality when Union minister of state for Railways R Velu flagged off the first broad gauge train to Mysore from Chamarajanagar town today.
To see that their dream had turned a reality, public thronged the upgraded railway station in large numbers. The maiden broad guage train to Mysore ran to capacity as the minister flagged it off on the newly-laid 61-km broad gauge track.
After flagging off the train, Velu hoped that the century-old demand for a rail link to Mettupalayam from Chamarajanagar would turn a reality soon now that Chamarajanagar had a broad gauge line. He hoped that it would be taken up after the court, before which a case is pending, clears it.
He promised the huge gathering attending the colourful function of the trains linking to Bangalore and other State capitals. The Railways would continue with their project of conversion of all meter gauge tracks into broad gauge along with upgrade of the railway stations, the minister said.
The new hi-tech railway station, from where the minister inaugurated the train service, has been built at a cost of Rs 5 crore, after the existing old railway station building, built by the British, was demolished as part of the modernisation project.
Chamarajanagar was connected with meter gauge and in tune with the policy of the Railways to convert all meter guage sections into broad guage metre gauge trains were suspended in January 2007 and conversion of the track was taken up at a cost of Rs. 150 crore. It received a sizeable allocation of Rs 45 crore only in the 2005 Railway Budget and till then the work was progressing at a snail’s pace. For the last 22 months, commuters had to depend upon bus services and pay a higher fare than the fare they earlier paid to travel by train.
Regular operation of trains between Mysore and Chamarajanagar will begin from tomorrow. Currently three pairs of trains will be operated and more trains will be introduced after the ongoing works are completed.
The trains leave Mysore at 6 am., 11.30 am. and 6.15 pm. and arrive at Chamarajanagar at 7.35 am., 1.10 pm. and 8 pm. with a one-minute stop at 12 stations enroute. Similarly, the trains will depart from Chamarajanagar at 7-35 am, 3-30 pm. and 9 pm and reach Mysore at 9.35 am, 5.15 pm and 10.45 pm respectively. The fare will be Rs 11.
The newly laid track includes 31 level crossings, 27 manual gates and 9 automatic gates between the 61 km line. An 80 ft long new road is laid from the main road for the smooth flow of vehicles to the railway station
