Bullet Train

Survey for bullet train service between Mysore-Bangalore-Chennai underway: K H Muniyappa

Lawrence Milton, TNN Jul 7, 2012, 06.23PM IST

MYSORE: Minister of state for railways K H Muniyappa on Saturday said there is proposal before him to operate high-speed (Bullet) train between Mysore-Bangalore-Chennai and a survey on this score is underway.

Muniyappa said they are studying about the viability and later they will decide on the project. He said if this is in place one can travel between Bangalore and Chennai in 90 minutes and felt it will be more convenient than traveling by air thus indicating his support to the project. Even the fares will be kept lower than that of flights, he added.

To a query, the minister told reporters that the project is in conceptual stage and once the survey is complete they will study the report and then take a final decision in this regard.

State government had proposed this project and it was estimated that the project would cost nearly Rs 200 for every kilometer dedicated railway line work.

Mysore-Bangalore track doubling

Railway minister of state Muniyappa on Saturday said soon after Karnataka state government clears hurdles at Mandya, Maddur and Srirangapatna, they will soon take up the track doubling project work.

State government has handed over 2000 acres of land to railways but due hurdles near few places they are yet to handover the remaining land for the project. Railways have set two year deadline for the track doubling work but the minister claimed they will speed up the project as soon as they get land and try to complete the work in one-and-half years time.

The minister however assured to facilitate the state to get permission from the Archeological survey of India to clear another hurdle. There is hindrance to take up the track doubling work near a monument in Srirangapatna as ASI guidelines are strict. It prevents taking up any development works within the radius of 200 mts of any monument and railway line between Mysore-Bangalore, near the monument, comes within the radius.

Kodagu to be on train map soon

Minister Muniyappa said survey work for creation of Mysore-Kushalnagar railway line is complete and plan has been sent to Railway board for approval. After they get green signal the work would be commenced soon and this will benefit people in region.

Meanwhile, the minister said he has plans to connect north Karnataka directly to New Delhi. Presently, people are forced to travel to any of the capital cities Hyderabad and Mumbai to reach the national capital. But once the Gulbarga and Bidar line work is complete they can directly travel to Delhi via Itarsi railway station without reaching these cities.