Electrification of Mysuru-Chamarajanagar railway line to begin soon

The much-awaited railway electrification works between Mysuru and Chamarajanagar will begin in a week and the Central Organisation for Railway Electrification, Indian Railways, has informed the South Western Railway, Mysuru division, about the works.

With the Ministry of Railways setting a target to electrify all railway routes by 2024, works have been taken up at several places across the country.

The Mysuru-Chamarajanagar rail route, which passes via Nanjangud, is 61-km long and the electrification work will be taken up at a cost of Rs 20 crore. Tenders were invited in the beginning of the year. Power Guru Infratech Private Limited has taken the responsibility of electrification. It has been given 12 months’ time to complete the project.

Officials said, although one year is more for the project, they have given extra time, keeping in mind the rainy season, when it is not possible to execute the works.

It will be a challenge to take up the works on the bridge constructed across River Kapila. Electricity poles have to be installed and officials should inspect if they can be installed beside the existing pillars or whether they need to construct a new one from the riverbed. The works will be easy from Nanjangud to Chamarajanagar, said sources.

However, the works will not affect the rail service between Mysuru and Chamarajanagar. The electrification will facilitate the extension of Memu trains and there are possibilities of increasing the speed of the trains, benefiting the people of Mysuru, Nanjangud and Chamarajanagar.