JOIN USKushalnagar-Mysuru rly line to become reality
The present NDA-led Union government has made the long-pending Kushalnagar-Mysuru railway line a reality.
It has shown the green signal for laying this new line in the Railway Budget 2016. It has been a three decade-old demand of the people of this region.
Union Minister for Railways Suresh Prabhu, in the budget speech, said Rs 667 crore will be released for the construction of the 85-km line in the first phase. According to the him, the funds will be gathered from corporate investors.
The idea to have a railway line to Kodagu first came up in 1980-03 when R Gundu Rao was the chief minister. Gundu Rao hailed from Kushalnagar region.The demand became stronger as tourism flourished in Kodagu district.
Former Union railway minister K H Muniyappa initiated the survey of the railway line on December 31, 2011. Subsequently, a report was submitted to the government by the Railway Department.
Later, in 2014, the then Union Railway Minister D V Sadananda Gowda too batted for the project and ordered for a resurvey.
Boon to coffee trade
The introduction of new railway line to Kodagu is being termed as a boon to the coffee industry and floriculture.
Every year 1.30 lakh tonnes of coffee is being cultivated in Kodagu and a major portion is being transported to Mumbai and Kolkata.
This way, the railway line is expected to benefit coffee growers. Also, the railway line will be complimentary to the growth of floriculture and tourism , said Home Stay agent Sathish.