If coffee exporters come forth and collaborate with the Railway department and the State government, then the government will consider the proposal for providing railway connectivity to Kodagu, said Minister for Railway R Velu on Wednesday.

Mr Velu was in the city on a private visit.

Coffee Board member Sannuvanda Kaverappa submitted a memorandum to the minister saying that about 40 per cent of coffee growth of the nation and about 75 per cent of the same in the State is produced in Kodagu and hence railway connectivity for Kodagu is inevitable.

Responding to the memorandum, Mr Velu said that in Orissa-Andhra Pradesh, mines, iron ore, cement and other entrepreneurs have collaborated with the government in providing railway connectivity. Similarly coffee exporters in Kodagu too can take part so that government initiates action in this regard soon.

“Railway connectivity between K R Nagara and Kushalnagar might be taken up soon as the government approves the study for the project. Since it is a plain terrain, there will be very little burden. Hence, depending on the feasibility report, this project will be taken up,” he assured.

He said that two projects, viz., Mysore-Kodagu-Mangalore and Chennarayapatna-Madikeri railway line projects have been dropped as the study of these two routes have pointed at 8 per cent and 5 per cent loss respectively.
He said that the UPA Government at the centre will successfully complete its 5 year tenure and informed that at present the government is not facing any problem as such. Answering a query on the difference of opinion that has cropped up over Nuke deal, he said that when different parties come together to form a government such differences are bound to arise, but such crisis are only temporary. The leaders of both parties will sit together and solve the problem. Refusing to comment on Rama Sethu issue, he said that the Rama Sethu project must be implemented as it holds great economic promises for the country.

Mr Velu then visited the private bus stand and inspected the advance railway ticket booking centre here.