Mysuru: The work of double rail track between Bengaluru and Mysuru was completed a year ago. The project upon completion, was expected the help commuters between Bengaluru and Mysuru. But due to terminal constraints at the Mysuru railway station, not even a single new train has been introduced between Mysuru and Bengaluru.
According to the railway authorities, additional trains can be operated only after setting up of another terminal station, which is proposed at Kadakola, 15 kms away from the city. The Mysuru station is landlocked and there is no scope for expansion. Since the completion of the doubling project, the travel time has come down by merely 10 minutes, contrary to the claims of reaching Bengaluru in 2 hours. Now, it is taking almost two and half hours to three hours.
Mysuru Railway station is having limited capacity. The doubling of tracks between Bengaluru-Mysuru was completed and commissioned a year ago. There is lot of demand for running more trains between these two stations for overall economic development of Mysuru. Hence, there is an urgent need for an alternative terminal station for Mysuru to handle the projected additional traffic, for which the South Western Railway officials have mooted a proposal to develop the Kadakola railway station as additional terminal station on Mysuru-Chamarajanagar section.
Due to the completion of doubling line between Mysuru and Bengaluru, there are scopes for more number of trains. More number of trains will be diverted from Bengaluru railway station which is already overcrowded. Mysuru railway station will find it difficult to accommodate new trains as it is already congested. Keeping this in mind, Mysuru division railway sent the proposal to head office in Hubablli. Once they approve, it will be sent for a final approval to Railway Board, Delhi.
Atul Gupta, Divisional Railway Manager, Mysuru division, South Western Railway said, “Mysuru railway station is almost decongested due to which it is difficult to accommodate new trains. We have already sent a proposal for terminal station at Kadakola which is estimated to cost Rs 70 crore. Once we get a terminal station, all the works which are being undertaken in Mysuru will be shifted to Kadakola”.
It can be brought to light that the Mysuru-Bengaluru double line project stands completed except the 1.5km stretch in Srirangapatna station limits where the shifting of Tipu armory and bridge work is under progress. The work is expected to get completed in a couple of months. The first train to roll on this stretch was Mysuru-Sainagar Shirdi weekly express on November 30 last year. The completion of the double line created additional capacity and the railways will be able to run more number of trains at higher speeds. There have been demands for introduction of more number of trains from various quarters. According to the railway authorities, as of now including bi-weekly and weekly trains there are 24 trains towards Bengaluru and vice versa.
Every day at an average 25,000 people travel in train, among them 4000 are regular commuters to Bengaluru. Every year, the passengers are increasing by 5 to 10 per cent.
The proposed Satellite Terminal Station at Kadakola, which is just 15 km from Mysuru will have six platforms, rake facility, water and maintenance facility and other facilities.
As of now, there is more scope for additional trains towards Mysuru from Bengaluru. Mysuru railway station is already overcrowded and congested. To accommodate more number of trains, the terminal station at Kadakola is the need of the hour. The proposal of Rs 70 crore has been already submitted to South Western Railway Headquarters, Hubballi.
