Talaguppa-Honnavar railway line
Samithi sees no light at end of proposed tunnel
Getting environment clearance for project difficult: Na D'Souza
Nrupathunga S K
Shivamogga: Though the Railway Ministry has allocated ~ 2, 500 crore to...
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lay the new railway line between Talaguppa-Honnavar in its budget-2016-17, which was presented recently, Talaguppa-Shivamogga Broad Gauge Horata Samithi is still not hopeful that the dream project would become a reality soon.
The samithi is of the view that the ministry is intended to implement the project under EBR partnership (Extra Budgetary Resources). This clearly means that no expenditure can be booked unless the funds are specifically available against the work/projects. EBR is not a part of the budget order, which is the authority to book expenditure. Besides, the Union Ministry of Environment & Forests & Climate Change is unlikely to give its clearance for the project as several reports claimed that around 18,000 trees had to be cut to lay the new railway line between Talaguppa-Honnavar covering 82 kilometres. Members of the samithi are of the view that it may take another ten to fifteen years to become a reality.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Samithi Working President Na D'Souza, who is also noted novelist, said: "around 26 tunnels have to be constructed to establish a railway link between Talaguppa-Honnavar due to the presence of Masti Mane ghat in the region. It is a long-pending demand of people of the region as it would connect Talaguppa with Konkan railway. People in general and traders in particular would benefit from this railway line. But, obtaining environment clearance is an uphill task. The railway department made a futile attempt to obtain environment clearance from the concerned minister in the past. So, it may not become a reality soon." He said department has also allocated ~ 320 crore to lay new railway line between Talaguppa and Siddapura covering 16 km under EBR partnership. "We had never sought this as the distance was very short. We want the department to extend the intercity train -Bengaluru-Shivamogga to Talaguppa for the benefit of passengers of the region. But, the department has stated it is not financially feasible. It can't be accepted and the samithi would continue to put pressure on the department in this regard."
History of the project
It may be recalled here that according to the estimates given by the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) in 2012, the project was supposed to cost around ~ 1,920 crore. The proposed 82 kms railway line is expected to pass through Sharavathi forests and the then union minister of state for Railways K H Muniyappa had proposed to construct a 20 km tunnel to ensure that minimum damage is done to the ecology of the region.
The railways had also proposed to undertake the project on Public Private Partnership basis and had entrusted it to the RVNL. The RVNL conducted a feasibility study and had ruled out the possibility of undertaking the project unless the State government contributes to it.
DH News Service