Will Malnad get railway connectivity?

The taluk headquarters had railway connectivity prior to independence. However, the facility was lost following the Bhadra reservoir project.

With Union Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa directing the officials to carry out a survey for laying the railwayline from Bhadravathi to Sringeri, the people of the taluk are hoping for reviving the lost glory.

A tramway track had been commissioned on May 15, 1917 to transport goods and passengers from Tarikere to N R Pura. The route passed via Tarikere, Lakkavalli, Hosalli, Tadasa before reaching the taluk centre. Another route connecting Tadasa and Hebbe was commissioned on February 5, 1921, which was cancelled in 1949.

The  tramway track was commissioner to transport coal to VISL in Bhadravathi. The train was passing through Bhadravathi Junction, Kanagalasara, Maridibba, Nelagadde, Kodihalli, Muthinakoppa and Aramballi. The distance to Bhadravathi was just 22 km on this route.

There was a railway junction at Muthinakoppa. The remains of the quarters of gangmen at Bhadra Colony can be seen even to this day. The VISL company removed the railway tracks in 1980s. As the iron rods from the quarters of gangmen were being stolen by the miscreants, the quarters was auctioned, said the local residents.

The proposed railwayline is the same old route which was once laid by the VISL. The land where the railwayline existed in the past is intact even to this day.

The bridges laid for the railwayline across streams are still strong. The land belonging to the railways have not been encroached. The present route is the easiest route to lay railwayline. There are no hindrances for laying the railwayline on the proposed route, as the forest department’s approval was taken in the past.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, MP Jayaprakash Hegde said that he wil hold discussion with the Union Minister for Railways on the funds earmarked for the proposed route. All efforts will be made to re start the railway connectivity.

District-in-Charge Minister D N Jeevraj said that the State government will extend its support to the Centre, if its comes forward to implement the project. There was no hindrance to the project till N R Pura.

Villagers Prakash and Eshwar said that the railway connectivity to Bhadravathi will help the villagers.